Help. Windows 7 cannot communicate with primary DNS server.

I use a wired connection to my desktop PC and it's worked fine example for several years. Today, my connection was slow and after 5 minutes, I lost the connection completely and got the "cannot communicate with PRIMARY DNS server error message when I selected troubleshooting. I rebooted and ran into the same issue. I could connect for about 5 minutes and then lost connectivity. I rebooted the router but that didn't fix the issue. I'm able to connect using my tablet and phone via WiFi, just not the desktop. If I unplug the wired connection jack and then plug it back in, the connection is restored for a minute or two before failing again.

I haven't updated anything recently. Not sure what to do.

My connection has worked without any real issues for several years. Last night, Windows 7 lost my original network connection and asked to set up a new one. I created a new home network and things ran as normal for about 15 minutes. Then I lost internet connectivity and got a message saying Wired connection cannot communicate with primary DNS.

I rebooted the PC and had internet connection for about 5 minutes before getting the same error.

I cut power to the router and restarted it and again had connection to the internet for about 5 minutes before losing it again.

My wireless devices all maintain connection so I'm assuming that this is some sort of software or wired connection issue. I haven't upgraded anything (win 7 won't even run updates anymore). Could it be an issue with Avast anti-virus updating behind the scenes?

The green light is on next to the jack at the back of my PC and Windows says there's a connection to LAN, just not internet.
IvP4 says no internet.

I'm not really sure what I should do. I'm away from my PC right now but my thoughts are to try the following when I get home.

1) dig out my old USB wireless router and see if I can connect wirelessly with that. I'm not sure if it'll work as I haven't installed drivers and have no way to do so without internet connection to my desktop PC>

2) roll back to a restore point I created last week when I updated graphics drivers and see if that works.

Any ideas or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Sounds to me more like a Router problem.
Unplug the ethernet.
RESET the router, should be a small pin hole on it somewhere about the size of this > o <
Then turn it OFF for abot 30 seconds.
Then access the router, type 192 168 0 into your browser, to open the router settings and update it.

Roy

I'll give it a shot. My ISP (TELUS) says any updates or changes to firmware is forbidden and will void the contract with penalties. Any suggestions as to what to update?

Well thats a new one on me
CANT have you getting penalised
Updates are there to improve security and fix problems, firmware included.
IN YOUR CASE JUST TURN IT OFF/ON wait for 1 minute

IM ASSUMING your ISP routes you via >> THIER << DNS Server.

can you run ipconfig /all (1) when its working (2) when it drops out
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Roy

try setting your dns to open dns https://use.opendns.com/

If you still get the error open a cmd prompt type

tracert 194.119.131.66

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Hi Samuria. I tried your suggestion for OpenDNS and it seems to be working. Hopefully it holds up. Thanks for the help everyone!