Flushing DNS - so I can connect to sites?

I have a new Dell XPS since April. It is installed with Windows and there are sites tht I can't open - Amazon, Avon, Facebook for a while until I started using https....anyway I have no technical computer knowledge at all. When surfing the net for answers I came across a suggestion to disable DNS. I have a Linksys router and can't figure out why, or how to do this. Also, there is a suggestiong to flush the DNS. I didn't know how to get to a command line....somehow I got there, (I am sure I won't be able to get there again), but when I typed the command, I got the reply back that I don't have access.

Can anyone help?

Thanks,

Cheryl

 

I believe the command you are looking for is ipconfig /flushdns. You do this at the cmd prompt. The bigger issue is why you are having this trouble in the first place. Type nslookup at the cmd prompt to determine what your default dns server is. Sometimes spyware and other malware can change these entries and make internet access inconsistent.

Cheers,

 

Yes - you are correct!! I would love to know why this is happening! How do I get to the command prompt? I can't figure out how I was able to stumble upon it before. When I type in nslookup - what anser I am I looking to receive? Do you know why I got an answer saying I don't have access? I couldn't finish the rest of the commands that I was supposed to type.

Thanks,

Cheryl

 

click on start and type cmd in the search box and hit enter. It should bring up the command prompt. If it doesn't it will offer cmd as an item in a list and you can click it.

Use the cmd ipconfig /all and look for the ip information by scrolling back to the top of the list. The DNS servers are usually those provided by your ISP (Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, etc). You can test lookups by typing:

nslookup amazon.com

if that fails to resolve the name, note the server name/addr and then try:

nslookup amazon.com 4.2.2.1

This will force dns to use 4.2.2.1 to resolve the name amazon.com, if it works and resolves the name and lists a few ip addresses then you have a bogus dns server tied to your ethernet or wifi card.

Cheers,

 

Why not simply go into the TCP/IP settings for ipv4 and change the DNS server?

 

She could but if some program is changing the settings it will just get changed back. If she can confirm they are the proper setting from the ISP then the issue can be resolved with the ISP. Most likely spybot search and destroy or some other cleaner will need to be run. In many cases I just re-install Windows for relatives who have such an infestation. Hopefully, it's something simple.

But you're correct in that manually adding one of the public dns entries will fix the problem if the isp dns entries are no good.

Cheers,

 

Panzer06 - sorry, I don't know how to copy your statement in my reply. I typed in the command that you suggested and this is the message that I got:

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: amazon.com
Addresses: 72.21.214.128
72.21.194.1
72.21.211.176

I don't know what this means. I have the Linksys router and Cablevision Optimum is my internet provider

Thanks,

Cheryl

 

Server: 8.8.8.8
Address: 8.8.8.8#53

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: amazon.com
Address: 72.21.211.176
Name: amazon.com
Address: 72.21.194.1
Name: amazon.com
Address: 72.21.214.128
>

It's missing the first two lines with the DNS server info.

Also, it looks like you are resolving Amazon.com correctly. I assume you were able to access the website at the time you did this lookup.

What did the "ipconfig /all" command give you?

Cheers,

 

It gave me a whole long list of things, but I don't know what I am looking for.
Windows IP configuration and then a sublist
Wireless LAN adapter wireless network connection 2 and then a sublist
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection and then a sublist
DNS servers and some numbers
NetBios over Tcpic enabled
Ethernet local adapter
Then three different groups of Tunnel Adapter

still get the message Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage then it run diagnostic and the test doesn't show a reason

Cheryl

 

have you tried the simpler alternative of installing chrome/firefox to see if you can reach them ? I doubt it has anything to do with DNS and even it does, use chrome to rule confirm that first before playing with DNS. Very few setup needs to touch DNS unless you are in China/Iran etc. (and if you do, it doesn't help anyway).

 

firefox doesn't work, but chrome does. I used Firefox all the time on my old computer. For some reason, it is not working well at all on this one.

Thanks,

Cheryl

 

If there is no problem in chrome, it really doesn't sound like DNS problem as chrome share a lot of the network settings with IE, even proxy settings.

Unfortunately, I can't tell just from the symptom. A thing you can try(which becomes geeky) is to install firebug under firefox and trace in the network panel to see what exactly doesn't work(whether you can reach the site).

Another alternative is to find a public proxy which again would narrow down whether it is network issue(with your ISP) or may be security issue(settings) in firefox/IE.

 

The problem could be with your computer, router or internet connection. Do you have another computer you can try?

Other things you can try are to unplug the power from the broadband modem and router, wait a minute or so, then plug them back in and see if you have better access (wait until the modem and router are fully restarted).

If that doesn't work, try plugging your computer directly into the modem (find the cable that goes from the modem to the router, unplug the cable at the router end and plug it into your computer's network port). If this works then you know the problem is in your router.