can not connect to DNS server

Hi,

i recently started having troubles with my internet. specificaly using P2P programs that would either completely block (utorrent and qbittorrent) or not connect properly (Vuze). In my efforts to find out why i discovered that Windows can not connect to DNS server, even though it is an automaticaly obtained DNS server.

I am running Windows VIsta Home Premium with SP2.

this is my ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Pepe-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8168B/8111B Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1F-D0-86-AB-7A
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::a574:7aef:7a75:3f62%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.33(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, October 23, 2010 8:30:39 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, October 26, 2010 8:30:38 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 201334736
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-12-C4-8F-44-00-1F-D0-86-AB-7A
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 80.58.61.250
80.58.61.254
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{9DC6E79A-AF85-4A7D-BFC4-1794CE0846DE}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 10:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

my router has been set up to open all ports for the 192.168.1.33 address.

that setup has worked for me forever and all of a sudden it causes problems.
I can browse the internet though often connections time out. I tried resetting
WINSOCk and INT IP using the commands:

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults: netsh winsock reset catalog

Reset TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ip reset reset.log

when i rebooted my connection to DNS server was restored briefly but moments after the problem reoccured.

I am running out of ideas, so i hope anyone on here has a suggestion

thanks in advance

Hi Targh32,

Welcome to Vista Forums! I'll do my best to assist you.

Your DNS serve has the wrong address - it should be 192.168.0.1 and not the two that are listed there. I'm not certain where the error is coming from, so we'll check a few places:

Go go Start / Control Panel / Network and Sharing Center / Manage Network Connections / then select your local connection and right click on it and click on Properties and then click on TCP/IPv4. Make sure DNS is set to obtain DNS server address automatically. Click on Advanced and then the DNS tab. If there are any entries in the top box, delete them (but write them down and their order in case we need them later). Make sure Append Primary and Connection Specific suffixes is checked as well as the box under it to append parent suffixes of the Primary DNS suffix. At the bottom check the box for Register this Connection's settings in DNS and that the bottom box is not checked. Click OK and go to the Alternate Configuration tab. Make sure automatic private IP address is checked and click OK.

Then go to TCP/IPv6 and make exactly the same changes you did for TCP/IPv4 (some may be worded a little different and some may not apply, but do those that are the same or similar).

Now reboot (there are other ways, but this is the simplest).

Now connect (if it doesn't do so automatically) and recheck ipconfig /all to see if DNS server now says 192.168.0.1 and that everything else looks the same as it did on the image you posted. If so, I suspect you will now be able to connect without DNS server problems.

If you still have problems, send me a new ipconfig /all. Then make sure your router is set up as a DNS server (it should be and most are automatic) just as it serves as a DHCP server.

I hope this helps.

Good luck.

Hi lorien, first of all thank you for taking your time to reply to my post. It is appreciated.
The 2 addresses listed for DNS server in my IP config are the ones that are automatically obtained, because that is the setting i use under both TCPIP v4 and v6.
I went through all the settings you described and everything was already as you suggested it should be. I checked the connection, it connected to the DNS server. i checked again, and it didnt. also when i use internet sometimes i obtain the page really fast, other times for same page it times out, even though the connection on my router never seems to go down.

Could it be that the whole problem is ISP related ? I tried calling them and speak to knowledgeable person, but they only have drones there that ask standard questions, no one that actually knows about beneath the surface problems.

The reason this whole issue came up was because i seem no longer able to maintain a connection with a torrent client. As stated in first post, both utorrent and qbittorrent freeze and Vuze can not keep a download rate up for more than a few seconds, before it goes back to a transfer rate of 0 and seems to try to reconnect for a few minutes.

Also i did a Speed test on Speedtest.net and several times the operation did not complete because it froze on testing my upload. A problem that i have never had before.
Somehow it seems that i do not have a stable connection, but i am not sure what i can do to verify this.

All the settings i have on my computer have worked for months if not years. all of a sudden i get this problems. so i am thinking it is either my router, a cable or my ISP or perhaps a virus, for which i am checking now while i am writing this. I hope you can give me a few more insights. Thanks in advance,

Regards, Pepe

Hello!

I am not very good at this sort of stuff, hopefully someone better will come along soon, but I can make some comments:

192.168.1.1 as Default Gateway is quite possibly perfect. The Default Gateway depends on router manufacturer, and almost always is one of these six:

192.168.0.0
192.168.0.1
192.168.1.0
192.168.1.1
192.168.2.0
192.168.2.1

I don't think that that is a problem. As a shortcut, one can enter your Default Gateway as DNS, but this is not ideal, as then everything is getting an extra step inside the router.

First, we shall test some different DNS servers:

There is no need to change IPV6 settings. ONLY change IPV4 settings at this point. Please blank IPV6 for the moment.

Enter the following:

IP: 192.168.1.35
Subnet Mask: 225.225.225.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.15

Primary DNS: 208.67.222.222
Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.220

These are Open DNS, and only temporary. Tell us if this fixes the problem please.
Thanks!

Richard

Guys (and gals,)

AWESOME contributions! This is a great example of true blue troubleshooting.

Having worked for Verizon, I wanted to toss in my 2 cents.

First of all, did they (during your call) truly answer your questions? Typically, they won't support anything router-related, as they're usually considered 3rd-party hardware.

Since a lot of the basics have been covered, (and I'm a professional at knocking-out my internet connection,) have you done any of the following?

1.) Registry cleaner-type programs?
2.) "Tweak" programs, anything that's "Boost Speed" related?
3.) Command prompt tweaks, like TCP-IP autotuning?
4.) Had recent infections? (Seems stupid, but an elevated command prompt with the sfc /scannow command can reset proper permissions which can, in rare circumstances, tie-into connectivity-related issues.)
5.) Attempted to "bridge connections" and attempt other things like that
in the Network and Sharing Center?

If so, then some house cleaning may be in order.

It's late here, almost 5am, so I apologize if I skipped anything by accident.

Your ISP can provide you with "Static IP Address" information. If they try to sell you one, don't take the bait. It's a lie. Don't settle into one or drop anchor with it; it's highly vulnerable if you didn't know that already.

So, say you're managing via Network and Sharing Center. You click on Manage Network Connections. You see your connection (we'll use "Local Connection 1," ethernet, in this example, which works, even though it's just an example and I know yours doesn't work.)

Right-click on the target connection and choose Properties.

From there, you can get to the area you want. Status is important because it can provide simple information you would otherwise have to dig out of the Command Prompt. If you're simply missing the Default Gateway (and have an IPv4 address, for example,) then some commands may help in an elevated command prompt, or one ran as administrator:
(no dashes)
- ipconfig /flushdns
- ipconfig /registerdns
- ipconfig /renew
- netsh winsock reset
The last command may not apply, but I was told to use it and it has made a difference in the past. WinSock isn't usually operative, but I'd not pull out any stops in this case.

Back to Static IP address. In case it hasn't been defined, it's manually plugging in the 192.168.1.1 (address of your router,) which should take you to a dialogue box (login & password request) if you plug it into Internet Explorer, even-if OFFLINE. It'll ask for a Subnet Mask, which is 255.255.255.0. It'll ask for DNS Server 1, DNS Server 2, which can be found at DSLReports.com, and performing a search. I believe the poster before me identified them. I like to go to Google.com and type: site:dslreports.com Comcast DNS Servers. (That string with the colon searches within a site.)

By calling the ISP and asking for the DNS Servers (in an effort to setup a Static IP address,) they're mainly giving you DNS Servers you'd otherwise have to go elsewhere for, get online, and lookup.

Static IP? It's the opposite of DHCP or Dynamic. Your IP address is defined, it's the one you actually plugged-in piece by piece, and it never rotates or changes. Static is locked-in, thus why it's so vulnerable.

Depending on your router brand and model, you will have defaults as to the address or Default Gateway (9 out of 10 times it's the 192.168.1.1,) and you can either call for support (most offer free phone support, but it's difficult if you have VOIP phone service,) or lookup online, such as a .PDF manual.

YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW, assuming you haven't gotten into your Router Settings Page, the default ADMIN AND PASSWORD information. Usually, it's:
Login: admin, Psw: password, or admin/admin, (blank,) password, Admin/Password, Admin/password, etc. I'm sure you see the pattern.

I personally use a Linksys WRT600N. If you Google that model # in quotes (returns only that model in results,) you'll find the manufacturer's home page linksysbycisco.com. You'll even find setup software, in their case, LELA / Linksys Easylink Advisor, as routers are NOT easy, no matter what anyone says.

Steer clear of any firmware upgrades/downloads. They're risky and not worth it. If you don't mind, what router do you have?

Lastly, if this is sudden and you specifically encounter issues with P2P-related media, then that could be bandwidth compression. In my previous work, we had download/bandwidth limits that, if a customer exceeded any given month, we'd either give a call to or, in the case of P2P (due to high rates of p1r@cy and "unofficial" material,) simply suppress P2P via a remote patch.

You have the right to call your ISP and ask for Network Securities or Tech. Support as a starter.

If you're a major downloader, as I am myself, it could very well be the triggering event for your situation.

Case in point: I simply had a good run with uTorrent a few months ago, gathered up a bunch of good iTunes-library-related albums (discographies, actually,) + movies + games, etc., and got a call. I didn't really think it would be as bad as it was, installed a usage meter and found that I exceeded 300GB in 15 days. lol.

Sorry for the diatribe (after the fact, I noticed you're MUCH more savvy than I realized.) I don't mean to talk down, moreso spell it out for anyone else who has these problems or, perhaps, clarify a detail that the more qualified folks who posted before me mised.

Thanks for taking the time to read, assuming you got to this point.

PS - Safe mode with networking; does it offer any different results? Or, login as yourself, (Start Windows Normally,) that is restarting after the (administrator CMD prompt) sfc /scannow, then create a new User Account (Administrator rights,) then try to fiddle about. See if that does anything. Sometimes the simplest things can help. Also, check devmgmt.msc (Device Manager) and click "View" and "Show Hidden Devices" to see if anything's out of whack. Check, lastly, services.msc and make sure DHCP is enabled and all appropriate internet-related services; sort them by status (running or not,) then type (auto/vs/disabled or manual.)

That's my methodology to solving these situations. If you end up needing anything specific, driver-wise or anything, I'm at your disposal; I have access to a large library of those things that I don't have to "Google" or use a program to find for me.

Warmest regards,

v877051
Erik

v877051 said:

Registry cleaners

Click to expand...

I just wish I could make this engrained into each part of the site; I can't state enough how many times I've billed good hours over problems caused by these silly programs. I'm sure that's not the cause of your problem, here, just a peeve that many have and the masses don't seem to listen to.

v877051 said:

v877051 said:

Registry cleaners

Click to expand...

I just wish I could make this engrained into each part of the site; I can't state enough how many times I've billed good hours over problems caused by these silly programs. I'm sure that's not the cause of your problem, here, just a peeve that many have and the masses don't seem to listen to.

Click to expand...

I am absolutely in love with anybody who understands how bad registry cleaners are!

Sorry to keep reposting, but here's a link to a site that has treated me well. Techmynd.com is a variety site (I went there for NES + SNES emulators / ROMs,) and found this; it may help your situation just in case.


Repair Registry Policies with Command Prompt - Registry - TechMynd


5 Tips to Troubleshoot Windows Vista Networking Issues


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