DNS lookup repeatedly failing and internet suddenly going slow

[afw]

Hiya, I have had a look around on google for help with this but have struggled to find a solution..

 

In the last 2 weeks or so on both computers in the house the internet continuously drops and I keep getting the message DNS Lookup has failed. The internet will work (VERY slowly) for around 5minutes then all of a sudden the DNS message will reappear.. My internet is provided by Orange and I have had no luck speaking to their technical support. They did send new filters which they thought was the problem but they made no difference at all! if anybody can help would be greatly appreciated as this problem is driving me crazy and nobody can seem to fix it! thanks!

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to ExTS

 

I assume that you have a router ( hence the filter replacements ) ?

What is the make and model number please ?

 

I suspect that this may be a router problem - I had a similar problem a while back and a replacement router fixed the continual dropped connection.

 

Are you connected wirelessly with both machines ?

 

Does it drop the connection if you connect direct to the router by ethernet cable ?

[afw]

thanks, i have an orange livebox router, one computer is connected directly to the box the other is connected wirelessly. orange did a phoneline test to see if that was the problem and according to them things are all fine their end!

[KenB]

Please answer all of the following:

 

Start > type in ....devmgmt.msc .....ENTER

Click the + next to Network Adapters

What is listed ?

Are there any yelow exclamation marks or red Xs ?

 

============

 

Start > type in ....cmd then right click on the cmd.exe that appears top left of screen

Click on "Run as Administrator"

At the prompt type in .......ping 127.0.0.1 .......ENTER ( space after ping )

You should get 4 packets sent / received and no losses

 

If you do .....

 

Then type ping 192.168.1.1 ......ENTER

Again you should get 4 packets sent and no losses.

 

===============

 

Try the above ( ping ) when the connection is down too and let me know the results of both :)

[afw]

The only thing listed is Intel ® PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Network Connection with no exclamation marks or x's and the Ping returned 4 packets and no losses when the internet was connected and when it wasnt!

[KenB]

Ping returned 4 packets and no losses when the internet was connected and when it wasnt!

Please confirm that you pinged 192.168.1.1 and 127.0.0.1 with no problems.

Thanks.

[afw]

yes pinged both with no problems

[KenB]

Disconnect EVERY phone connection other than the router.

Phones / answerphone / Sky etc etc.

 

Make sure that the router has a filter inline before the phone-point.

 

Try the connection again.

( I had a similar problem once and it was the Sky connection causing the dropping of the internet )

[afw]

yeah i tried this when on the phone to orange (i was on the phone to them from a mobile) and still no success! cannot figure out what is the problem other than a new router as you suggested

[KenB]

If it is still dropping the connection the only other thing that I can think of is to change the channel ( frequency ) that the router broadcasts on.

There may be something interfering with the present frequency.

 

Click on the Internet Browser

At the address bar at the top ( where http//www. etc is ) highlight this and type ........192.168.1.1 ............ENTER

You should be taken to the Router Access Screen.

This will ask for a login name and password.

 

If you have not set these then the standard ones are usually Admin for both.

 

Once into the router software have a look around for the page that allows you to change the channel.

This is normally a number between 1 and 13

Channels 1 - 6 - 11 are commonly used.

Select a different channel then save the changes.

 

Try the connection again.