DNS Error Troubleshooting

DNS Error - Cannot Access The Internet

If you receive an error in Internet Explorer similar to the one we've listed below you may have a DNS problem specifically or a number of other problems with your internet/network connection including but not limited to an invalid IP configuration. If using Firefox the error will read different but the troubleshooting steps provided are identical.

In this tutorial we are going to provide some basic but very useful troublshooting steps including learning how to use IPCONFIG to resolve network connectivity issues. While not a complete fix all guide these troubleshooting steps are a necessary part to any PC technicans toolkit and they just may resolve your own connectivity issues.

Sample Internet Explorer Error Message:

The page cannot be displayed

The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your browser settings.

To attempt fixing network connectivity problems, click Tools, and then click "Diagnose Connection Problems..."

Other options to try:

Click the Refresh button, or try again later.

If you typed the page address in the Address bar, make sure that it is spelled correctly.

To check your connection settings, click the Tools menu, and then click Internet Options. On the Connections tab, click Settings. The settings should match those provided by your local area network (LAN) administrator or Internet service provider (ISP).

See if your Internet connection settings are being detected. You can set Microsoft Windows to examine your network and automatically discover network connection settings (if your network administrator has enabled this setting).

Click the Tools menu, and then click Internet Options.
On the Connections tab, click LAN Settings.
Select Automatically detect settings, and then click OK.

Some sites require 128-bit connection security. Click the Help menu and then click About Internet Explorer to determine what strength security you have installed.

If you are trying to reach a secure site, make sure your Security settings can support it. Click the Tools menu, and then click Internet Options. On the Advanced tab, scroll to the Security section and check settings for SSL 2.0, SSL 3.0, TLS 1.0, PCT 1.0.

Click the Back button to try another link.

Cannot find server or DNS Error
Internet Explorer

Troubleshooting Steps:

Below we've listed some great troubleshooting steps as a useful starting point to resolve many Internet connectivity issues such as the one above. These steps are by no means your fix all solution to all connectivity/network issues but a great place to start.

Step 1: DNS Error & Network Connectivity Troublshooting

First check to make sure you are physically connected to the network. If you use a physical Ethernet cable to connect to your network check to make sure your connection is not loose or unplugged. It is best to unplug and replug the cable back in just to make sure.

You should see status LED's on the back of your NIC blinking if you are connected. For wireless conections make sure your wireless client says that you are in fact connected to the correct wireless network.

Step 2: DNS Error & Network Connectivity Troublshooting

If you are physically connected but you still cannot access the Internet it is a good idea to proceed to check your ip configuration to make sure that a Default Gateway is assigned.

The Default Gateway is normally a router which is used to connect your internal local area network to the actual Internet. Without a Default Gateway assigned you will not be able to connect to the Internet.

While there are various ways to check your IP configuration one of the best commands that PC technicians use is the IPCONFIG command. To use IPCONFIG follow the steps below.

Open a command prompt window by clicking on the Start Button, then Run, and finally type the command CMD, and hit enter. In Windows Vista feel free to type CMD in the Search box.

Once you are in a command prompt window type the command IPCONFIG and hit enter.

Here is a sample IP configuration: In the example here notice how there is no Default Gateway? Since we have no Default Gateway we will not be able to access the Internet.

C:\>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.70
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

C:\>

Step 3: DNS Error & Network Connectivity Troublshooting

If you do not have a Default Gateway assigned similar to the example above, or even if you do but still cannot access the Internet proceed to release and renew your IP configuration by following these steps.

While still in the command prompt window type IPCONFIG /RELEASE

Here is a result of the output: Notice how everything is set to all 0's?

C:\>ipconfig /release

Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

C:\>

Step 4: DNS Error & Network Connectivity Troublshooting

Next we will renew the IP configuration. What this does is reach out to your DHCP server requesting a new IP configuration.

While still in the command prompt window type IPCONFIG /RENEW

Here is a result of the output: Notice in this example that we now have a default Gateway? If you also have a Default Gateway after renewing your own computers IP configuration try now to access the internet again and it may just work like magic. If not proceed to step 5.

C:\>ipconfig /renew

Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : gateway.2wire.net
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.70
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254

C:\>

Step 5: DNS Error & Network Connectivity Troublshooting

Finally let's rule out any potential DNS error by flushing your DNS resolver cache. See DNS is responsible for converting a website's IP Address such as 74.125.19.99 into a name like Google.com. If things are messed up and you have a DNS error you won't be able to connect to a website by its name.

Follow the steps below to proceed.

Access the command prompt via CMD like we've instructed earlier and type the following command: IPCONFIG /FLUSHDNS

Next let's initiate a new registration of the DNS resource records by typing: IPCONFIG /REGISTERDNS

Conclusion:

While the above steps may or may not have resolved your own connectivity issue, we do hope you enjoyed this brief tutorial.

At the least these tools are very useful for network troubleshooting and if you pursure a career in Information Technology you will definitely want to be in the know.

See also:

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