Share via

DNS cache not working after 24h2 update

Anonymous
2025-03-06T23:01:20+00:00

I updated windows on my PC and now I’m unable to use it. My internet is connected via Ethernet but I’m having DNS cache issues ever since I updated it.

It doesn’t let me uninstall the latest upgrade or system reset back to before the upgrade.

I’ve tried to reset the router multiple times, flushing the DNS cache and reset my network setting but my PC is still completely unusable.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

1 answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-07T08:56:54+00:00

    Hello Betelgeuse_

    Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

    We are sorry to hear that you have been faced with some problems after updating your system. Here’s a structured approach to resolve DNS cache and network issues after the Windows 24H2 update:

    Step 1: Verify DNS Client Service

    1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and open it.
    2. Find DNS Client in the list.
    3. Ensure its status is Running and Startup type is set to Automatic. If stopped, right-click and select Start.

    Step 2: Reset Network Stack

    1. Open Command Prompt (Admin), run these commands in sequence: ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew ipconfig /flushdns ipconfig /registerdns netsh int ip reset netsh winsock reset netsh winhttp reset proxy
    2. Restart your PC.

    Step 3: Check the Hosts File

    1. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
    2. Open hosts with Notepad.
    3. Ensure there are no suspicious entries (other than 127.0.0.1 localhost). If there are, comment them out with # or delete them.

    Step 4: Update/Rollback Network Drivers

    1. Press Win + X > Device Manager.
    2. Expand Network adapters, right-click your Ethernet adapter, and:
      • Select Update driver (let Windows search online).
      • If issues persist, choose Uninstall device > restart PC (Windows will reinstall the driver).
      • If updated recently, try Roll Back Driver (if available).

    Step 5: Test with Static DNS

    1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet > Hardware properties.
    2. Under DNS server assignment, click Edit.
    3. Choose Manual, set:
      • IPv4: Preferred DNS 4.2.2.1 (Microsoft), Alternate 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).
      • (Optional) Disable IPv6 here if needed.
    4. Save and test connectivity.

    Step 6: Repair System Files

    1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
    2. Run the following commands one by one:
      DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth 
      DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth 
      DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
    3. Run sfc /scannow and wait for the process to complete. Check if there are any detected errors.

    Step 7: Boot into Safe Mode with Networking

    1. Restart and boot into Safe Mode:
      • Press Win + R, type msconfig, go to Boot tab > check Safe boot > Network.
    2. Test internet/DNS in Safe Mode. If it works, a third-party app/service is conflicting.

    Step 8: Perform a Repair Install (In-Place Upgrade)

    1. Download the Windows Media Creation Tool from another device.
    2. Create a bootable USB and run setup.exe on your PC.
    3. Choose Upgrade this PC now (keeps files/apps). This replaces system files without data loss.

    Step 9: Check for Malware

    1. Run a full scan with Windows Security or Malwarebytes to rule out malicious interference.

    Step 10: Last Resort – Clean Install

    If all else fails, back up data and perform a clean Windows install via a bootable USB. This erases all data, so ensure backups exist.

    Disclaimer: At this point, we have exhausted all troubleshooting and I recommend that we try to perform a clean install to get your computer back into a working condition. Please ensure that you backup any important data, including Documents, Pictures, Videos, and more. After that, you can find instructions on how to install Windows 10/11 in the following article by MVP Andre: How to: Perform a Custom Installation of Windows 11 and Windows 10 - Microsoft Community 

    Additional Tips:

    • Check Event Viewer: Look for errors under Windows Logs > System around the time the issue occurs.

    If none of these steps resolve the issue, contact your device manufacturer for further assistance, as the update might have deeper compatibility issues.

    Best Regards,

    William.Y | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments