Hello Jan,
I Assume you have a complete data backup before the crash.
If you are planning to recover the database to the point in time when the backup was created, you can go ahead and run the recovery as "Recovery with Initialization" from your Database Studio. Use the option to recover the parameters from the backup - if you wish to keep the same configuration. The "wrong_hostfile" error is probably because you are trying to run a normal recovery.
As you said you are pretty new to SAP and MaxDB, I recommend you to go through the following documentation & Training links before performing the restore.
Go to http://maxdb.sap.com/training/
The following Sessions will be helpfull:
Session 2: Basic Administration with Database Studio
Session 11: SAP MaxDB Backup and Recovery
Also refer to the MaxDB Library at http://maxdb.sap.com/doc/7_8/default.htm
Tools -> Database Studio -> Restoring Databases: Overview
Let me know if you need any further help during the restore.
Regards,
Yashwanth