DNS resolving host delays

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Running Windows 8.1. It seems that recently my web page access is delayed because of multiple “resolving host . . .” messages in my browser’s status bar. I have tried DNSJumper and DNSBench to try to solve the problem, as well as changed the DNS IP’s both in my computer and in my Belkin router. I have disabled IPv6. Nothing seems to have any effect. My HOSTS file is the “empty” default file. Does anyone have a solution? Nothing I have searched for on the web contains the solution. This occurs in multiple browsers – IE, FF, Opera, and Vivaldi. My provider is Spectrum, but I do not let my IP do the DNS lookup. Sometimes I think a local DNS cache never gets accessed or has data saved into it because I can go to a website, close the browser, go back to that same website and still see “resolving host . . .” If the cache were operating properly, one would think the lookup would be nearly instantaneous as the cache would or should be accessed. Maybe the problem is all these websites with all their ads from 3rd parties, whose hosts all have to be resolved. I’m sick of the web and all its ads. Totally annoying.

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I have never had a problem whatsoever with using OpenDNS, no matter who my ISP has been. Their default settings for their three DNS servers are 208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220 and finally 208.67.222.220. Your router should have space for either two or three separate entries for the DNS resolvers, so use one of these sets of numbers in each space. You need to take steps to either “Apply” or “Save” the settings and wait for confirmation from your router’s firmware for the settings to take effect.

Google also has DNS resolvers set at 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 if you’d rather use them. Both of these services, OpenDNS and Google, are completely free of charge: Just put their sets of numbers in the right place in your router’s configuration and then save (or apply) the settings.

Please also look at the DNS settings for your active networking connection within Windows. This might be set to something different than your router and would override your routers settings for that computer. For example, if you’ve set the router to OpenDNS’s numbers, but the settings on your computer’s network connection have Google’s DNS numbers your computer will use Google’s DNS resolvers.

A couple of things besides your ISP that could be causing DNS resolution issues: 1. Having an instance of malware on your machine, 2. Having overly aggressive settings within a security suite-type of program. Have you recently installed a new security suite, or had an upgrade performed of an existing security suite? Have these things (your issues with slow DNS lookup) started happening since the installation of a program you just downloaded from a site on the Internet?

Some security suites may have the ability to change your computer’s DNS settings for your networking connection, especially if they have a feature to help protect you from malicious web pages. They might be forcing your computer to use DNS servers that are slow to resolve addresses.

These suggestions are intended as just a starting point, but may hopefully resolve your issue after all. There are a few things that might be causing your slowdown besides what I’ve mentioned above. I’m hoping that some other more technically inclined users will be able to chime in on this thread and offer other suggestions in case mine don’t work out for you.

2 users thanked author for this post.

stanhutchings, Morty

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By “DNSBench”, do you mean the DNS Benchmark utility provided by Steve Gibson?  If so, run it again and pay attention to the “Conclusions” section.  In there you may see some recommendations about whether the DNS servers should be specified in your router, or in your PC, or in both.  It’s also a good idea to clear your DNS cache occasionally.  Here’s a site that tells you how to do that, and how the cache works.

Windows 10 Pro 64 bit 20H2

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