Windows 7: "The DNS server isn't responding"

Got myself a Windows 7 Laptop (HP Pavilion DV6-1355DX) about 2 weeks ago, and have been trying to take it online (via dial-up, bleh), and have always encountered the same error on and off, "The DNS Server isn't responding" (off being about 2 minutes worth of surfing). I tried eliminating some non-working programs, but that didn't help, and I'm wondering if any of my other programs might be causing the issue.

A general idea of what I have on there:
Battlefield 1942
OpenOffice.org
SimGolf
Sim City 3K
Clean Access Agent

And I'm wondering if any of these might be causing my issue, or I got a bad update (I got a bunch when I tried to connect at the college campus, though other issues kept me from getting out of quarantine, but they're not immediately relevent).

Set a static ip address for the lan adapter inside Windows 7. Use 208.67.222.222 for dns server while doing so.

If that doesn't help, and it definitely should, uninstall antivirus and firewall to test. Disabling only, will have no effect.

Make sure you don't have mdnsresponder.exe in the task manager. If you do, that means you have Bonjour service. Google for how to completely uninstall.

I have a two wire modem by Embarq now central link. I have several pc's and it doesn't seem to be linked to just the windows 7. I get "DNS server not responding" and I can't get online. But I do have downloads and they are still downloading in the background while i still can't get online. Any ideas?

Same advice as my previous post. If you follow it, disable DHCP on the router.

Also, make sure you do not have mdnsresponder.exe in the task manager.

i had same message a few days ago i thought it was a reuter prob and phoned my isp , they told me to unplug the reuter and wait ten secs for it to reset after that it was fine ive had no issues since, b4 that every time i started pc the internet would drop out and come back. its ok now though if you use a reuter give it a whirl

This just happened to me using Windows 7 & a ZoneAlarm router. I set the DNS Lookup to the suggestion above (208.67.222.222) and that worked.

Thanks,

George

I'm receiving the same error, but I'm not plugged into a router. I'm plugged directly into the wall and go through my apartment complex's connection.
It comes and goes (today, mostly goes)
Any suggestions?