DNS Lookup Failed - Big Problem

[relapse71]

History: Had a Dell notebook for 3 months. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, it slows down (gets DNS lookup failed error) on the internet, and in two days, the hard drive fails
Then I take it back and get an Asus. First day, same error, notebook slows down, no antivirus works, hard drive fails.
Day 3, I bought a NEW asus notebook. Same error. Internet nearly unusable. Coincidence? No way. Is there a malware in my network? How? No programs I have tried (AVG, MWB, Kaspersky) - detect a virus. Could it be associated with Steam (only program all three computers had in common). Error occurring on my wife's laptop but not all the time like mine. What can I check. Please help, very frustrating and don't wanta loose notebook number 3 to another hard drive failure. This is like no virus I have heard of before if it is one.

Edit* Some of the symptoms from all three computers are: lag time on internet (blue circle between web pages last between 10-30 seconds). System performance slow (like memory low - I have 6Gs though). Sometimes, transfer rates and download rates are slow. These symptoms are worse if Steam is open and downloading a file.

 

[KillerBee]

For the DNS issues you can try running the GRC Benchmark program which may help you find a better DNS server than your provider's.
http://www.grc.com/dns/benchmark.htm

 

[relapse71]

Thanks got this how do I change the setting?


System nameserver is SLOWER than 40 public alternatives!
This benchmark found 40 publicly available DNS nameservers that are reliably faster than the slowest nameserver currently being used by this system. If you were to adjust your system's configuration to use the faster of these nameservers instead of what it is currently using, your DNS lookup performance, and all use of the Internet, would be improved.

 

[THRiLL KiLL]

try bypassing the router and connect the netbook directly to the modem.

once you do that you may have to unplug the modem and plug it back in and go to a command prompt and type:

ipconfig /flushdns

then type:

ipconfig /release

Then type:

ipconfig /renew

and then type

ipconfig /a

and that will let you know if u have an ip address

then try the grc test again