can't connect unless dns servers are specified

[vital]

I often use my laptop at home and at work via wifi. For some reason I can't seem to access any websites if I don't specify my DSL service's primary/secondary DNS servers when I'm at home. This gets pretty annoying when I keep on needing to clear it when I get to work and assigning them back when I get home. Is there a way to fix this so I can automatically obtain DNS servers when I'm at home?

 

[xSauronx]

if youre using xp it allows for a second network connection setup

im not near an xp box, it somewhere under tcp/ip properties, maybe labeled "alternate config" or some such where you configure your ip/dns addresses. you can set up 2 ip configs. leave whichever you use most often as the primary config (automatically detect ip, statically assign dns) and the other set up for your other config (automatically detect ip, automatically detect dns)

ive used it before and it works fine, but iirc it takes a bit longer to make the second connection if thats the connection you need and is probably faster to just do it by hand.

 

[spidey07]

That's what DHCP is for so you never have to manually specify anything. It should tell you what your DNS servers are for the network you are connected to.

If you open a command prompt and type "ipconfig/all" when you're at home do you not have any DNS servers listed? What other equipment is involved in the home network.

 

[RebateMonger]

There are three "useful" ways of getting IP (and DNS) settings in XP:
Static IP
DHCP Server
Alternate Configuration

The IP/DNS strategy that is best for you depends on how IP addresses are normally obained, both at work and at home.