title: Service in Windows 7 operating system not using the hosts file as local service
body: <p>I have programmed a Windows Service that is calling another service over the network. </p>
  
  <p>The other service's IP is defined in the hosts file.</p>
  
  <p>The Windows Service is running as local system.</p>
  
  <p>On Windows Server 2008 this works fine. The IP from the hosts file is used.</p>
  
  <p>On Windows 7, the IP from the hosts file is <em>not</em> used. Instead it uses normal DNS. </p>
  
  <p>If I use a normal user instead of local system, the behaviour is correct. The same as on Windows Server 2008. The host file is used. </p>
  
  <p>I can reliably switch between local system and a normal user for the same service binary without touching the hosts file, the error is reproducable. So it's not about caching anything anywhere or having a wrong hosts file. </p>
  
  <p>Is there anything in Windows 7 I missed? Why would a service running as local system <em>not</em> use the hosts file?</p>