Question: Here's my hosts(with a single entry):

```
127.0.0.1 test

```

But it's not working any more:

```
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>ping test
Ping request could not find host test. Please check the name and try again.

```

Why?

**UPDATE**

It stops working ever since I used **[openvpn](http://openvpn.net/)**

**UPDATE2**

![alt text](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ssJRt.png)

Answer: 
I had a similar problem trying to ping a machine across our VPN

I made *two* identical entries, each on a separate line, and that made it work
Your host file NEEDS the first entry to be 127.0.0.1 localhost to properly function, according to Microsoft. That may be an issue as well. Add that in then reboot and try