Hi, I hope you can help with my problem...

I've had DNS issues for a long time now my home computer. I share a wired router with other family members and their PCs (as in, we plug the ethernet into the currently required PC as needed). Nobody else has any issues with connection, leading me to believe it's something about the settings on my computer. I would connect, then disconnect, then at some point reconnect randomly, before disconnecting again. Diagnosing the problem during the disconnects would present the error message "There may be a problem with your DNS configuration."

So I came across OpenDNS. I set it all up for my computer and it connected. Great, right? =( Unfortunately not. Minutes later I couldn't access the Internet, although I didn't actually disconnect. When this happens I am now presented with the error message "Failed to communicate with Primary DNS Server(208.67.222.222)".

What can the problem be? Why is it just my computer it happens on? Please can anybody help me I'm really sick and tired of DNS!

Now that you mention it, it's the router I'm losing connection to - but as I say nobody else who uses the router is having this issue so... I'd be hesitant to mess with any router settings.

IPCONFIG /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Dwain-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mshome.net

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mshome.net
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8101E Family PCI-E Fast Ethern
et NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1B-38-4B-2E-A0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::a06b:e556:2147:16a6%9(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.5(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 01 July 2009 16:25:15
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 02 July 2009 16:25:15
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 201333560
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-0F-50-D6-6C-00-1B-38-4B-2E-A0

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::2481:bbdd:6395:15fc%9
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
Connection-specific DNS Suffix Search List :
mshome.net

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 10:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mshome.net
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{D4FFCA38-201A-410B-9697-254BEDA62
19E}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 14:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 6TO4 Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

I think you meant computer, but you said router? But the OpenDNS stuff is just configured on my computer, not the router. Does it have to be both? I'm wary about fiddling with this because, as I say, the router works perfect for other computers...

I'm afraid I don't know how to remove the DNS Suffix thing :/



Output stuff:

C:\Users\DwainW>nslookup www.opendns.com 208.67.222.222
Server: resolver1.opendns.com
Address: 208.67.222.222

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: www.opendns.com
Address: 208.67.219.101


C:\Users\DwainW>nslookup www.opendns.com 208.67.220.220
Server: resolver2.opendns.com
Address: 208.67.220.220

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: www.opendns.com
Address: 208.67.219.101


C:\Users\DwainW>nslookup www.opendns.com
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
Server: UnKnown
Address: fe80::2481:bbdd:6395:15fc

DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
*** Request to UnKnown timed-out

For a home setup, I'd also suggest upping your DHCP Timeout from 24 hours.. while the DHCP timeout being only 24 hours wont hurt, in a home setting unless you have a very narrow DHCP scope, you shouldn't need to refresh that often..

@kuraidark
"Does it have to be both? ? I'm wary about fiddling with this..."
No, far not, not on both at the same time please! If you want to have OpenDNS just on your computer, your current approach is perfect!

Now commenting your command outputs:
nslookup www.opendns.com 208.67.222.222
nslookup www.opendns.com 208.67.220.220
This looks good, both returns 208.67.219.101, which indicates that you can reach OpenDNS for DNS lookups. It is not blocked or redirected yet, e.g. by the router or by your ISP.
However, as @infinity306 mentioned, you missed the trailing dot after .com, but this didn't matter in this case.

nslookup www.opendns.com
Again, the missing trailing dot, and also, the result is horrifying. It fully explains why you got the impression "Minutes later I couldn't access the Internet, although I didn't actually disconnect". In fact you were still connected, but losing DNS looks like you lost the internet connection...
Now you know how important this "internet phonebook" DNS in general is!

Unlike @infinity306 advices, I would not know a method under Vista to change the order of IPv6 DNS server entries against IPv4 DNS server entries, because these are configured in different areas. (Maybe with netsh? But this is nothing for an unexperienced user...) It seems to be a Vista bug. Vista should not try to resolve first via IPv6, or, if not successful via IPv6, it should attempt with IPv4 then. Apparently this is not the case. You may search the internet if you find a solution for this. However, as you do not seem to use IPv6 connectivity at all yet, you simply can deactivate or even uninstall IPv6.
At the same occasion you can probably remove the DNS suffix stuff, as it is close nearby, both near the place where you entered the OpenDNS server addresses.

To remove IPv6 connectivity go to http://www.opendns.com/img/start_vista6a.gif
From the list select "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)", and either deactivate the checkbox or click Uninstall, before you confirm "Ok".

To look for DNS suffixes go to http://www.opendns.com/img/start_vista7a.gif
Then click Advanced and go to the DNS tab. There you find several radio buttons and check boxes and a list box, all for DNS suffix stuff. Remove and deactivate everything, as far as possible.

And yes, as @infinity306 wrote, you may increase the DHCP lease time at this occasion as well, e.g. to a week or even a month. You probably have to set this on your router, if this supports to change this parameter, because I do not know a place in Vista, where the lease time could be changed. Does anybody else know?

Edit: If you need more orientation because of the pictures above, these have been taken from https://www.opendns.com/start/device/windows-vista

Yes, I can confirm this. This is mine. (Sorry, it's in German.)
Note that I always delete the "Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface" at startup time with netsh. Beside this, you are seeing here true IPv6 connectivity via a tunnel "in action".

Windows-IP-Konfiguration

Hostname. . . . . . . . . . . . . : doesntmatter
Primäres DNS-Suffix . . . . . . . :
Knotentyp . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unbekannt
IP-Routing aktiviert. . . . . . . : Nein
WINS-Proxy aktiviert. . . . . . . : Nein

Ethernetadapter Drahtlose Netzwerkverbindung:

Verbindungsspezifisches DNS-Suffix:
Beschreibung. . . . . . . . . . . : Wireless 802.11b/g 54Mbps USB 2.0
Physikalische Adresse . . . . . . : 00-18-E7-0D-CB-7A
DHCP aktiviert. . . . . . . . . . : Nein
IP-Adresse. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.11
Subnetzmaske. . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
IP-Adresse. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::218:e7ff:fe0d:cb7a%5
Standardgateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
DNS-Server. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1

Tunneladapter Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:

Verbindungsspezifisches DNS-Suffix:
Beschreibung. . . . . . . . . . . : Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physikalische Adresse . . . . . . : C0-A8-02-0B
DHCP aktiviert. . . . . . . . . . : Nein
IP-Adresse. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.2.11%2
Standardgateway . . . . . . . . . : ::216.66.80.30
DNS-Server. . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
NetBIOS über TCP/IP . . . . . . . : Deaktiviert


ping ipv6.google.com

Ping ipv6.l.google.com [2001:4860:a005::68] mit 32 Bytes Daten:

Antwort von 2001:4860:a005::68: Zeit=22ms
Antwort von 2001:4860:a005::68: Zeit=21ms
Antwort von 2001:4860:a005::68: Zeit=20ms
Antwort von 2001:4860:a005::68: Zeit=20ms

Ping-Statistik für 2001:4860:a005::68:
Pakete: Gesendet = 4, Empfangen = 4, Verloren = 0 (0% Verlust),
Ca. Zeitangaben in Millisek.:
Minimum = 20ms, Maximum = 22ms, Mittelwert = 20ms


nslookup -type=aaaa ipv6.google.com.
Server: speedport.ip
Address: 192.168.2.1

Nicht autorisierte Antwort:
ipv6.google.com canonical name = ipv6.l.google.com
ipv6.l.google.com AAAA IPv6 address = 2001:4860:a005::68


tracert ipv6.google.com

Routenverfolgung zu ipv6.l.google.com [2001:4860:a005::68] über maximal 30 Abschnitte:

1 13 ms 12 ms 12 ms rotblitz1-3.tunnel.tserv6.fra1.ipv6.he.net [2001:470:1f0a:14d0::1]
2 9 ms 12 ms 12 ms gige-g2-4.core1.fra1.he.net [2001:470:0:69::1]
3 13 ms 10 ms 11 ms de-cix20.net.google.com [2001:7f8::3b41:0:1]
4 * * * Zeitüberschreitung der Anforderung.
5 * * * Zeitüberschreitung der Anforderung.
6 * * * Zeitüberschreitung der Anforderung.
7 24 ms 23 ms 21 ms ey-in-x68.google.com [2001:4860:a005::68]

Ablaufverfolgung beendet.

Okay I've made the changes by deactivating IPv6 (I didn't uninstall in case something goes wrong and I need it back) and removing the DNS suffix stuff as far as I could............. Just as I was typing this I lost connectivity. /sigh

I think this problem might be insoluble!

Any more advice? No worries if not I'll just have to live with it! Here's the latest ipconfig:


Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Dwain-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8101E Family PCI-E Fast Ethern
et NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1B-38-4B-2E-A0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.5(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 02 July 2009 11:30:39
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 03 July 2009 11:30:38
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 10:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : isatap.{D4FFCA38-201A-410B-9697-254BEDA62
19E}
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 14:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 6TO4 Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

@kuraidark
"Just as I was typing this I lost connectivity."
Next time when this happens, can you visit http://208.67.219.60/ with your browser to see if you really lost connectivity, or just DNS.

Your TCP/IP config looks ideal now. It should work. If not, there must be a different cause.

Edit: And yes, do what @infinity306 is asking for.

Hmm, everything looks correct.. I wonder if there might be underlying hardware/ISP issues popping up that just happened to have weird timing..

Hmm another thought came to mind.. maybe the ethernet Cable has a flaw in it, and your computer is more sensitive to it then the other Family members? or maybe there is something wrong with the Network adapter/port on your computer? I have seen issues at work where 1 employee has a laptop that disconnects from the Server and goes offline a few times a day but no other employees are affected.. in that case I narrowed it down and Rolled the Network adapter driver back and it seems to have fixed that problem..

What IE Error page did you get?