Solved DNS server isn't responding

[Silpheed]

Today, my laptop and desktop, both running Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit, started having the same problem - they can't connect to the internet. With windows Network Diagnostics, sometimes "The DNS server isn't responding", and sometimes "Local Area Connection/Wireless Network Connection doesn't have a valid IP configuration".

I've tried:

- unplugging and replugging the power cable to the modem
- resetting the wireless router
- ensured obtaining IP address and DNS server address are obtained automatically for Internet Protocol V4 and V6
- netsh int ip reset (CMD)
- netsh winsock reset (CMD)
- ipconfig /renew and ipconfig /release (CMD) (the latter gives me the following error message on my laptop: "An error has occured while renewing interface Wireless Network Connection : unable to contact your DHCP server. Request has timed out.")
-ping-ing 8.8.8.8 (CMD) transmit failed, general faliure 4/4 times.
- clearing browser history
- system restore to an earlier point on my laptop
- checking for updates to my network adaptors (Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport Adaptor was updated)
- disabling Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport Adaptor
- uninstalling and reinstalling the wiresless adapter to my laptop
- inputting the physical address on my desktop to the Network Address (Local Area Connection > Properties > Advanced) - originally the value was "Not Present"

None of the above worked. I've used this network for a few years, and this is the first time this problem has occured on both the laptop and desktop.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[kegobeer]

If there's an issue with both of your computers, I'd look at the router or the ISP as the cause of your problems. Have you contacted your ISP about the internet problem?

 

[Maguscreed]

I tend to agree, sounds like a problem with the router specifically to me.

Power it down again, but be patient let it stay off for a good 5 minutes, then plug it back in.
You may have to go into the router settings and manually refresh the dns after that.

 

[Silpheed]

Sorry, I forgot to mention I contacted my ISP. I tried everything they asked me to and none of their suggestions worked. I'm inclined to say it isn't the router's problem given that the desktop I'm using right now (running windows vista) works with it, and my ipod connects to it as well.

 

[kegobeer]

Sorry, I forgot to mention I contacted my ISP. I tried everything they asked me to and none of their suggestions worked. I'm inclined to say it isn't the router's problem given that the desktop I'm using right now (running windows vista) works with it, and my ipod connects to it as well.

I was under the impression you only had two computers and both have the same issue. Have you checked your router to see if the two problem computers have internet access blocked? Have you compared the two computers to see if they both have the same recent Windows update, as perhaps that's causing the issue? How are both computers connected to the router (wireless, wired, or one of each)?

 

[Silpheed]

The desktop is properly connected to the router by cable and the laptop is wirelessly connected. As mentioned, both computers have Windows 7 and both of them have been updated very recently (within the last week). I was thinking an update may have resulted in this issue and figured restoring it to an earlier point would resolve it on my laptop (it didn't). Would it be possible to uninstall every update I've done in the last week?

 

[Silpheed]

So using safe mode with networking allows me to access the internet with no problems. Something's blocking the connection outside safe mode but I don't know how to pinpoint it or how to resolve it. Help, please.

 

[Maguscreed]

My guess would be either antivirus or firewall software is blocking you they don't load in safe mode.

 

[Silpheed]

I've temporarily uninstalled my anti-virus. It doesn't seem to be the cause. I'll try to disable my firewall as well (along with anything else that looks suspicious) and see what happens.

EDIT: no anti-virus at the moment, and firewall disabled. The problem is still here.

Two oddities I should point out:

- my anti-virus (Avast!) updated itself several times despite the problem
- sometimes it says I have internet access, but I can't access any websites (I've tried IE and Firefox)

Edit 2: it works now, after disabling all non Microsoft services via safe mode and restarting.

 

[IMAyNeed]

In the old threads like a year ago, they were suggesting to uninstall bonjour service (msdnresponder.exe), but I don't know if anything changed since then about msdnresponder.exe. People more professional than me can know better.