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Thread ID: 138538 2014-12-14 21:15:00 Windows 8.1 has an inconsistent internet connection johcar (6283) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1390173 2014-12-14 21:15:00 (Posted this on windowssecrets.com forum, but haven't had much back in the way of useful solutions. I'm sure there are more knowledgeable people here...)

I recently bought a shiny new Asus Ultrabook. This machine had Windows 8 pre-installed. After I booted it up and started setting it up the way I want it, it upgraded itself to Windows 8.1.

Since that time I have had numerous problems connection to web pages (via Chrome and IE). The other machines in the house (4 x Win 7, plus two Android Tablets and one Android phone) have no such problem.

The symptoms appear straightforward:

Start Browser
Enter URL (or select Favorite)
Browser connects to site (50(-ish)% of the time)

If the browser does not connect, I find that unplugging the ethernet cable and plugging it back in, then reloading the page usually works

I Googled this issue and it seems to be relatively common...

One solution I tried was "flushing the DNS cache" following these steps:


Here are the steps you will need to flush the dns:
1. Start screen
2. Search
3. cmd:control, shift & enter keys at same time, this gives you admin access
4. type: netsh int ip reset then:
5. netsh winsock reset
Then restart your computer


..which I found in a post here: social.technet.microsoft.com...tpronetworking (https:)

This seemed to work for an hour or so after restarting, but the machine has now reverted to its previous bad habit.

Is this an artefact of a Win8 to Win8.1 upgrade? I have heard that a clean install of 8.1 does not exhibit this issue...

Does anyone have a permanent solution?
johcar (6283)
1390174 2014-12-14 21:23:00 There were some issues with Windows 8.1 and how it handled DNS from the Telecom / Spark routers. What router are you using?
Does this also occur if you tether to your Cellphone and browse for a few minutes?
Chilling_Silence (9)
1390175 2014-12-14 22:43:00 What Chill said. If you are with Telecom/xtra/spark change your DNS to either Googles or ODNS ones. CliveM (6007)
1390176 2014-12-14 22:43:00 Every time I've seen this its a DNS issue as Chill said.

Either change to Googles DNS or you can also try disabling IPv6 in the network Connection if that doesn't work.
wainuitech (129)
1390177 2014-12-14 22:47:00 Not only Spark routers, had it occasionally with others too. My 8.1 workshop desktop connected via ethernet to a TP-link dropped until I changed to Google's DNS. Renegade (16270)
1390178 2014-12-14 23:49:00 Try DNS Jumper www.tomsguide.com

Find the fastest DNS server(manual entry for NZ),if you are having webpage loading issues just check against DNS server
Lawrence (2987)
1390179 2014-12-15 02:48:00 Yeh I do likewise, just set to GoogleDNS and be done with the issue :D Chilling_Silence (9)
1390180 2014-12-15 03:01:00 Thanks guys - I have changed to Google DNS server settings and will see how that improves things. I am with Spark and am running a Technicolor TG589vn V2 router...

I don't understand why this would only affect my Win8.1 machine while all the other equipment on the same network on Win7 or Android are fine. Weird!
johcar (6283)
1390181 2014-12-15 03:22:00 Thanks guys - I have changed to Google DNS server settings and will see how that improves things. I am with Spark and am running a Technicolor TG589vn V2 router...

I don't understand why this would only affect my Win8.1 machine while all the other equipment on the same network on Win7 or Android are fine. Weird! As chill mentioned its 8.1 and Sparks DNS -- blame which ever of the two you dislike the most :p
wainuitech (129)
1390182 2014-12-15 03:42:00 .... so far, so good... (And I think, even with my short experience with it, I'll blame Windows 8.1, since I have been a Spark/Telecom customer for years with no issues :D) johcar (6283)
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