ip address not found

Question

Sometimes on a website that I frequently use I will see "Hmmmm...can't reach this page .....IP address could not be found"

Why??? I have to restart my computer to be able to go to that website

Answer 1

Hi, I'm Bernard. I'm happy to help!

This error occurs when there is a DNS or network error on the PC. To sort out the issue, kindly follow the steps below:

Method 1. Roll back the network driver:

-Press the Windows key + X

-Go to Device Manager

-Expand the Network Adapters

-Look for the Wireless driver that was installed

-Right-click and click Update Driver

-Select Browse my computer for drivers

-Click Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer

-Choose an old driver or another driver name, then select it and hit next until it installs.

-Restart the PC and check.

If the issue persists, run the following command in Terminal (Admin). Follow the steps below to do so.

These sets of commands will reset the internet connection and recalibrate the internet settings you have.

Press Windows Key + X.

Click on the Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)

Type the following commands, and hit Enter after each command:

netsh int tcp set heuristics disabled
netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

If the same issue follows the methods below:

Do a clean boot:

A “clean boot” starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs so that you can determine whether a background program is interfering with your game or program.

• In the search box on the taskbar, type msconfig and select System Configuration from the results.
• On the Services tab of System Configuration, select Hide all Microsoft services, and then select Disable all.
• On the Startup tab of System Configuration, select Open Task Manager.
• Under Startup in Task Manager, for each startup item, select the item and then select Disable.
• Close Task Manager.
• On the Startup tab of System Configuration, select OK. When you restart the computer, it's in a clean boot environment.

Troubleshooting reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

Note: This is a public forum. I may respond shortly, but I apologize in advance for any delays. I am simply a fellow user trying to provide helpful insights and information.

Answer 2

The error means the browser cannot resolve the website’s name to an IP address or cannot reach that IP address reliably. Restarting the PC temporarily clears network state (DNS cache, IP configuration, etc.), which is why access works again after a reboot.

Use these steps instead of restarting the whole computer:

1. Renew IP configuration
   1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
   2. Run:

            ipconfig /release
            ipconfig /renew
      

   This forces Windows to drop and reacquire an IP address from the router.
2. Flush the DNS cache
   1. In the same elevated Command Prompt, run:

            ipconfig /flushdns
      

   This clears cached name-to-IP mappings that may be stale or corrupted.
3. Check proxy settings
   1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy.
   2. Turn off any manual proxy settings and test the site again.
4. Check the IP address Windows is using
   1. Find the PC’s IP address.
   2. If it looks like 169.254.x.x, Windows did not get a valid address from the router. In that case, ensure DHCP is enabled on the router and that the router has internet access. Once fixed, the No Internet/error state should clear within a few seconds.
5. Check DNS server reachability
   1. In Command Prompt, run ipconfig /all and note the DNS Servers.
   2. Try ping to that DNS server. If it fails, there may be a problem with the router, ISP DNS, or local security software.

If the problem persists only with one specific site, it can also be caused by:

• Temporary DNS issues at the ISP.
• IPv6 misconfiguration on the router or PC (for some sites). In that case, using the “Prefer IPv4 over IPv6” Fix it described in the IPv6 article can mitigate connectivity problems to certain websites.

These steps replicate what a reboot effectively does (reset IP, clear DNS, reset network stack) without restarting the entire system and help identify whether the issue is with local configuration, DNS, or the router/ISP.

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References:

• Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows
• Resolving Internet connectivity issues after World IPv6 Launch (June 6, 2012)