My Windows 11 desktop can reach raw IP addresses, but it cannot resolve or ping any hostnames, so webpages and internet services are unavailable. The problem happens over Ethernet, a phone hotspot, and even with a network adapter borrowed from another computer, which makes an ISP or hardware issue seem unlikely. I also tried changing DNS to Cloudflare and Google, but nslookup still times out. Windows pktmon reports that packets are being "absorbed" by component 103 at location 0xE0004170. I attempted a Windows repair from USB without success. Has anyone seen this behavior or found a way to repair it without wiping the machine and risking my data?
5 Answers
Look at the Windows hosts file as well. It can override normal DNS resolution, even if nobody intentionally changed it. Check C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts with administrator access and make sure there are no suspicious entries for common websites or DNS-related services.
Check whether a VPN, third-party antivirus, firewall, ad blocker, or network-filtering application is intercepting DNS. VPN kill switches are a common cause of being able to connect to an IP while all name resolution fails. Temporarily disable or uninstall anything that was installed or updated around the time the issue began, then reinstall the network drivers if necessary.
Try booting from a Linux live USB and test DNS there. If DNS works normally in Linux, the network hardware and internet connection are probably fine and the problem is isolated to Windows. That can help you decide whether to focus on Windows services, filtering software, or a repair install.
I know how to boot Linux, but I’m not sure which tests would be useful once I’m there. I’ll use it to compare connectivity and DNS behavior with Windows.
Since the issue follows both different networks and different adapters, changing DNS servers alone probably won’t fix it. Check the DNS client and network-related Windows services, reset the TCP/IP and Winsock stacks, and temporarily test with the firewall or security software disabled. If none of that helps, back up your files and use a clean Windows installation as the final step rather than replacing the entire computer.
A hotspot test mostly rules out the ISP, but it doesn’t rule out something local that is intercepting DNS. In nslookup, explicitly test a known server such as 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8. If those requests time out on every connection, focus on VPN software, firewall rules, security drivers, or a damaged Windows networking stack rather than the router’s DNS settings.
I’m the only person who uses the machine, but checking the hosts file is still worthwhile. I’ll inspect it before resorting to a full reinstall.