Cannot disable the DNS server lookup on a Win XP laptop

[Cimbian]

I have a Win XP pro laptop that sees everything okay when I use ping.

The network has three fixed IPs:
192.168.2.1 - Router
192.168.2.2 - Network Server (Win 2003) and DHCP server
192.168.2.77 - print server

The laptop is configured okay for the user and has connected okay in the past but will not now.

I have tried ipconfig /all and see that it is treating the print server as the DNS server.... a function is does not have.

I have used the usual ipconfig:
/release
/flushdns
/renew

etc.

but it still sees 192.168.2.77 as the DNS server.

My TCP/IP settings tell the laptop to get IP address automatically and use the default DNS server.

It has no problem getting an ip address.

I have no content in the lmhosts and hosts files so I cannot see where it is getting the DNS reference from.

any thoughts?

 

[JOAMON]

Spyware.....can play havoc with computers. Scan for and remove spyware and the reboot and see if that helps. Ad Aware and Spybot have good free tools for this.

 

[Cimbian]

This has also been tried. The machine had a thorough scan and clean. Also has the latest Norton Internet Security updates.

Something, somewhere, is locking the DNS lookup..... I think?

 

[JOAMON]

Did you check the DHCP scope to verify the DNS address it is assigning?

 

[Cimbian]

Thanks.

That sorted out the DNS server problem.

I have shut the laptop down and will try again tomorrow.

Cheers!