DNS Server : Not Responding Error – How to Fix it

I was just about to post an article on a different topic, but then I noticed that for some reasons, some websites were not opening up. There were no error messages and the web page comes with an option to click on diagnostic tools to find the cause. I confirmed that my internet connection is working fine as I was able to go to google and look for search results. The next step  was to open these website with browsers such as IE, Firefox and Chrome. The logic is to check if it as a browser related problem. All my web browsers had the same issue which confirmed, this is not a browser problem. Then I tried the diagnostic tool link that popped up in the webpage, which showed me  DNS Server Not Responding Error. After performing some troubleshooting, I was able to fix the issue. Thought I would share it in this article.

Reasons for getting DNS Server Not Responding Error

• The server which host the website might be temporarily down due to technical reasons
• The DNS service in your computer is corrupted or not working
• Security firewall might have accidentally blocked your PC from communicating with a website or certain websites

How to narrow down the source of DNS server not Responding Error?

• If you have another computer or mobile device accessing internet from the same network, then check if they are able to access internet. The other mobile device can be a smart phone or tablet. If the other devices have internet connection, then this is an issue with your computer. If the other devices are not able to access internet, don’t waste any time and contact your ISP. Explain them the scenario and they will help. (Some ISP technicians are quick to blame your computer for this issue)

• Try to access internet using safe mode with networking. It is explained below under the section “How to fix DNS Server Not Responding Error because of a corrupted security”. If your computer is able to access internet in safe mode with networking, a security software or conflicting third party software might be responsible for the problem.

• If you are getting DNS server error only on couple of websites, then it might be a temporary issue with the server which is hosting that website. You can check it using websites like http://downorisitjustme.com. Just enter the name of the website that you would like to check. This website will ping to your destination website and let you know if it is up or down. In case if it shows that the website you want is up and running properly, but you are not able to see it, then the problem is with your computer. If the website is shown as down or not working, you need to wait until the webmaster of the website get the issue fixed.

• Check if the error is a browser problem by browsing websites using different browsers such as IE, Firefox, Chrome, Safari or Opera. This happens rarely, but yet possible. If the error is happening only on a particular browser, then you need to troubleshoot the browser. Following the steps mentioned in IE optimization which fix most issues, no matter which browser you use.

How to fix DNS Server Not Responding Error Normally

• Open command prompt window by clicking on Run –> cmd (run with administrator privilege)
• netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt This will reset the ip
• type netsh winsock reset. This command will create a prompt to restart the computer, don’t restart now. This will help reset winsock settings. Although resetting winsock is not related to this error, this might be helpful in fixing other issues which can lead to this error.
• type ipconfig /flushdns This will help in flushing the stored DNS cache.
• Restart the computer and check if the issue is fixed.

Try this step if you still have the same problem.

• Do a power cycle of modem and computer. Turn off your computer and then turn off the modem and router (if present). Keep it turned off for 5mts and then restart all the devices.
• Check if the issue is fixed.

Still if the issue is not fixed, try the steps below.

• Open ncpa.cpl from Start tab. This will open network connections
• right click local area connection, then click properties
• Select Internet protocol version(TCP/IPv4), then click properties
• Select internet protocol ,select “use the following DNS server address”
• change DNS server address to global DNS value given below
  Preferred 208.67.222.222
  Alternate 208.67.220.220 (You can also use Google’s DNS address preferred 8.8.8.8 and alternate 8.8.4.4)
• Check if issue is fixed. Changing the Preferred and Alternate error usually fix most of the cases.

How to fix DNS Server Not Responding Error because of a corrupted security

Security software is another major culprit responsible for DNS Server Not Responding error. Every security software tends to get corrupted over a period of time for reasons ranging from file corruption while updating files, conflicts with other software or indirect changes to security settings as a result of intentional or unintentional changes made on your PC. This might cause the security software to block internet connection.

1) Disable security software especially the firewall settings. Then check if the issue is fixed.

If not follow the next step

2)Check if the internet works fine in safe mode with networking

Safe mode is a troubleshooting mode which allows only the essential operating system files and drivers to load.In safe mode with networking, apart from the basic OS files and drivers, network driver is also loaded which enable internet connection.The logic – If the internet connection works fine in safe mode with networking,then third party services or driver is responsible for the problem by blocking the internet connection. If the issue is still not fixed, then it might be some other problem.

How to start computer in safe mode with networking?

• Shut down the computer
• Turn it on. As soon as the screen displays, keep tapping F8 key continuously on the keyboard
• Select “Safe Mode with Networking” (If you use USB drive for internet connection, it won’t work as USB drivers won’t get loaded in safe mode with networking)

Check the internet connection. If the connection works fine, restart the computer normally.Configure security software properly to allow internet connection.
(Note: In certain cases,if the security software is damaged beyond repair disabling or reconfiguring it won’t work . I highly recommend uninstalling the security software.Make sure to re-install it)

DNS server not responding showing only for some websites

Sometimes the error message happens to only some websites. Of course, you can check if the website in question is working using www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com or http://downorisitjustme.com. But what if this is happening on authority websites like Google, Microsoft or Yahoo. You cannot expect these websites to be down and it happens very rarely. The solution mentioned below is simple and it worked very well for me. I apologize for not having any logical explanation to why this error happens only to some websites. You are always welcome to share your opinion on this.

• Open ncpa.cpl from Start tab. Open network connections
• Right click local area connection, then click properties
• Select Internet protocol version(TCP/IPv4), then click properties
• Select internet protocol ,select “use the following DNS server address”
• change DNS server address to global DNS value given below
  Preferred DNS Sever 208.67.222.222
  Alternate DNS Server 208.67.220.220

Providing the global DNS should fix the issue. In some cases, this solution might be temporary as the error message might return after a week or month (This happened to me). The trick is to now to remove the global DNS and select “obtain DNS server address automatically”. Then if it happens again, change it to global DNS. Switching between alternate DNS server address and automatic DNS server should fix the problem.

Other solutions to try for DNS Server Not Responding(If above mentioned methods fail)

• This solution works for wireless connection issues
  Start -> control panel -> network and sharing center -> change adapter settings on the left side -> disable Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter, if present.
  If Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter is not present in the location, go to device manager and disable it. Start -> Run ->Type devmgmt.msc ->Click View tab ->Select Show Hidden devices ->Expand Network Adapters -> Disable Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter, if present
  Check the status
• Disable Internet Protocol Version 6
  Start -> Run -> Type ncpa.cpl -> Right click “Local Area Connection” or your current connection ->Select Properties -> Uncheck “Internet Protocol Version 6“. Restart and check the status.
  

•  System restore feature enable you to restore your computer to a previous date and time when the computer was working fine. I rarely recommend system restore as a solution because most of the time system restore just mask the real problem and give a temporary solution. But considering the fact that you tried all the above steps and none fixed the problem, try doing a system restore to a date when the internet was working fine in your computer.
  Try doing a system restore as mentioned in the link.

If none of this worked, contact your ISP to get further help in fixing the problem.

Hope this article helped you in fixing DNS Server Not Responding Error. Feel free to add your comments and questions if you need any help on the topic. Please care to share this topic.

Note: McAfee users may find internet connectivity issues after a recently released update went wrong. The symptoms include problems with security center and loss of internet connectivity. McAfee has already released an update to fix these issues. But if the problem is with internet connectivity, you will have to uninstall McAfee. Once the issue is fixed, you may re-install McAfee as it will have the fix included inside the package.