DNS Probe Finished No Internet (Next Steps)

What is a DNS Server?

A DNS (Dynamic Name Server) describes specialized servers responsible for managing host names, IP addresses, their services, and the complex relationships when data interchanges happen.

To summarize, when you type a website’s name into your browser, the DNS server converts it to computer data, which helps it locate the website. Without a DNS server, you must type in complex IP addresses instead of typing Google.com into it.

Types of DNS zones

A DNS zone describes a specific portion of the DNS server. Think of it as a DNS server hierarchy, with each zone making up everything. You can divide the zones in DNS servers into primary and secondary zones.

Primary 

Also called the master zone, this contains a copy of the data a zone contains. Consisting of read/write data, there’s only one primary server, so all records go into this server. The data consists of a .txt file, which makes it simple for you to back up. For many, this is the preferred DNS server.

When the DNS server has issues with the primary zone, the other zones are unable to be accessed as well. Keep that in mind if your default DNS server is having issues.

Secondary 

Also called slave zones consist of read-only copies of the DNS server zone data. Usually, a secondary zone is a copy of the primary one. A secondary zone is not usually writable, but it can direct you to an alternate DNS server where you can write everything.

What Does it Mean When You Get the Error 

The error “DNS Probe Finished No Internet” makes sense when you break it down. First, the computer is trying to probe for a DNS. Then, the probing finishes due to the inability to find one.

In other words, this error is due to the computer’s inability to connect to the website’s DNS.

For some people, the error occurs only once or twice, then goes away. Hiccups happen, after all. However, the issue persists for others, making people wonder how they can fix the error.

If you’re having problems with this error, it can be frustrating. However, to figure out how to fix it, you must first understand why it happens.

Why does this error happen?

The first action in any troubleshooting steps you’ll find online is to narrow down the cause of the error. It can happen for many reasons. Let’s look at some of them.

Lost Internet Connection 

This reason is simple enough. There’s a problem with your Internet, and you will get the error until the connection is fixed. In addition, it may be due to a computer network being busy or going through problems. At Broadlinc, we use a redundant system of internet connection to reduce the risk of downtime for our customers. 

VPN (Virtual Private Network) Issues 

While VPNs provide protection and privacy, they can also lead to this error if your VPN takes too long to reach the server. Try accessing the website without a VPN to confirm or rule out that this is the reason.

New Router 

If you have a new router, you can get this error. You can try resetting the router or contact your ISP (internet service provider). Sometimes, a power cycle is all it takes. Other times, it may be due to poor connection. Contact your internet service provider if the Internet connection problem persists.

Browser Issues 

Try using a different browser. For instance, if you use Edge, try to open the Google Chrome browser and see if it works. If you can access the website just fine, it’s an issue with your browser. Usually, the browser has poor memory allocation due to its cache. Cleaning out the browser cache can be a way to fix it.

Website Changed Address

Sometimes the issue is not on your end, but the website you are trying to visit changed it’s address. We provide some steps below for doing further research on the DNS address you are trying to visit. 

Seemingly for No Reason 

The reason might be hidden. It can be due to a computer glitch, software hiccups, or another unknown reason. However, if the problem persists, follow our guide below to fix this error message. If nothing else, sometimes doing a hard reset of your systems is what you need to get the internet going again. Unplug your router for one minute, and then plug it back end. Then, restart your machine. 

How to Fix DNS Probe Finished No Internet Error

Clear Browser Cache

The first step to is to clear the browser’s cache.

Whether you use Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Edge, or another browser, the way to clear browsing data is usually straightforward. First, go to the top right corner and click on the options menu, usually represented by three dots or a hamburger menu. Then, click on the History option. You can then view your Internet history and see an option to clear the cache. You usually don’t have to delete anything else, so before hitting the “clear data button,” determine what you need to be deleted. Try this, and see if it works.

Power Flush Modem/Router

Sometimes, your network router needs a complete reset. We recommend the “turn it off and on again” method to restart it. To restart your router this way, unplug the power, wait a minute, and then plug it back in. Give it a few minutes for the router to restart completely, then see if you can connect.

Reset Network Adapter (Winsock Reset)

Now, it’s time for a bit of command prompt play. Type “command prompt” on the Windows start menu and right-click it when it appears. Click “run as administrator,” and it should open the command prompt window. Afterward, type “netsh Winsock reset” without the quotation marks, then press enter. Reset your computer, and then see if you can access the website.

Update Network Adapter Driver

Sometimes, you need to update your drivers. First, search for the device manager on the Windows start menu, and click the dropdown menu on the “Network adapter” driver. Afterward, right-click on the “WiFi adapter” option, then click “update drivers.” Then, you’ll know if it’s not up-to-date and can update it.

Flush DNS and Renew IP Address

Here’s another command prompt technique you can try. Once again, visit the Windows start menu and right-click on Command Prompt as admin. In the command prompt window, type “ipconfig /flushdns.” Next, press enter, then type “netsh int ip reset,” hit enter, then type “ipconfig /renew” and hit enter—no quotation marks on any of these. Then, reset your computer.

Disable Proxy Servers

A proxy server can give you security, but it can sometimes mess with your Internet access. Through the Windows start menu, find the “Internet Properties” button, also known as “Internet Options.” Click it, select the Connections tab, then LAN Settings. Uncheck “Use a Proxy server for your LAN,” then click OK.

Switch DNS Servers

If all else fails to fix “DNS Probe Finished,” you can switch your DNS servers. Your ISP could be to blame, and rather than try to flush DNS servers, you should switch them. Search for DNS services such as Google’s Public DNS, Cloudflare, or other services.

How to run a DNS Propagation Test

DNS propagation describes how long t takes for you to update your DNS server records and how it takes from the update to go from the primary default DNS server zone to the rest of the zones. Here’s how can you can test the speeds.

Command prompt: Nslookup

Go to your command prompt, and type nslookup WEBSITE.TLD, replacing “WEBSITE.TLD” with the name of your domain. After that, you should receive a report about your DNS server.

Dig Command

If you use Mac or Linux, go to your Terminal and type dig WEBSITE.TLD, once again, replacing the second part with your own domain name. After that, you’ll obtain a report.

Online lookup

You can use websites for auditing your DNS if you keep experiencing a DNS error. For example, you can go to www.dns.computer, type in the name of your website, and see the results.