Don't forget that the Modem, Router and your computer all cache DNS info. If the system believes it has the "answer" then no DNS query occurs and the cached IP is used.
To insure that "fresh" DNS data is be used do a hard re-set of the Modem, hard re-set of the Router and a flush DNS performed on all devices. That will force the newly entered DNS server info to be used.
BirdDog,
So, when using the router, if I want to use Google's DNS settings like I do with my desktop when connected directly to the modem, I need to change the DNS settings in the router to Google's instead of automatically obtaining them. Is that what you are saying?
Gwalk,
I know your post is probably helpful, but I have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. Does this mean that I should or shouldn't change the DNS in the router, or in anything. I'm getting even more confused now.
Ahhh. Thank you.
I very much appreciate the help. Sorry for the confusion. One day what is second nature to you guys I may understand a little more. I know a little more than the average Joe about computers and such, but considerably less than you two, so I get a little lost sometimes with the more technical aspects of what is second nature to both of you. I'm sure it can be as frustrating to you in describing to me something about a setup as it is in me describing to my stepfather, over the phone, how to shut down a program from the task manager. LOL. Again, though, I do very much appreciate the help and advice.
Ok,
When you request a webpage (in English: IE: cnn.com) your system will ask the DNS system to translate cnn.com into a IP address.
That takes time so ... the Modem "saves" IP addresses. The address it has saved may not be the proper or current address after a period time.
Doing a hard re-set of the Modem wipes out all of its saved data.
The same thing applies to your Router.
Your OS is a different matter however.
Getting rid of the DNS values that your computer has stored requires that you open a command prompt and give a "ipconfig /flushdns" command without the quotes.
http://www.noip.com/support/knowledgebase/how-do-i-flush-my-windows-dns-cache/
With regard to a hard reset, is a power cycle the same thing, or should I go to the SCC (in the modem's case) and do the reset from there, and go into the router's GUI and do the reset from there.
Also, when I do the DNS flush on my computers, do I do it while the modem and router are resetting, before I reset them, or after I reset them? If there is a proper order to do it in, I want to make sure I do it that way so that it clears everything in the way that it should.
I have to wait to do all of this, though, as my laptop is updating Windows 10, and it's taking FOREVER like all three of my computers did last month. My desktop only took about a half hour on Monday night. Three hours and I'm at 13% of the Cumulative Update. It's de ja vu, all over again. LOL.
#1: Pull the power on the Modem
#2: Pull the power on the Router
#3: Open the command prompt and do a ipconfig /flushdns
#4: Power up Modem and wait until its fully up
#5: Power up the Router and wait for it to fully boot.
At that point no DNS data is cached anywhere in the complete system so any page requests will result in a query for info from your newly setup DNS server source.
Got it. Thanks again for the help.