Man, I had the EXACT same problem, and everyone suggested the exact same things here that never did resolve my issue (no offense to anyone). But I DID however figure it out on my DC and all DC after that since...
Before doing anything else, I would try these steps...
**NOTE: DO THESE STEPS AT YOUR OWN RISK, I cannot be held liable for anything happening per these suggestions.
I am guessing in this situation since DNS was installed and initiated you have always had the same "nslookup" response issue (not resolving), BUT DNS seems to be working fine... if this fits your category, then try these steps...
FIRST THING
Go into your DNS in Active Directory, right click on your SERVER (the one directly under DNS) and go to properties, make sure that under the "INTERFACES" tab that your server IP address is listed as the ONLY IP listed in the "Listen On" under "Only the following IP Addresses"... if not ADD IT!
SECOND
Under the Forward Lookup Zone you should see your domain listed, click on it. In the right pane MAKE SURE you have a pointer record for your server (should be a text box in the right pane named your server) If you don't see it, create one by right clicking in the right pane and choose "new host". Add the pointer to your server by its own IP Address.
THIRD
Now, RIGHT click on the folder underneath the forward lookup zone with your Domain name and choose properties. Under here click on the "START OF AUTHORITY" Tab. Under the Priamry Server box, click on "Browse"... find your server and navigate down to that pointer record I mentioned in the SECOND step and choose it as your "primary server".
FOURTH
NOW, go to the NAME SERVERS tab in the same box and make sure that your server is listed with a domain address (ex. "server.domain.local") and that it is pointing to the server's IP. If NOT then make sure you add it! and MAKE SURE it looks like the example above and not something like "server.local", it MUST be "server.domain.local" <-- remember that I am using this as an example, yours would be your server name, your domain name, etc...
FIFTH
If this is the root server in your domain make sure there is NO MORE entries under your Forward Lookup Zone... a common one is the "." root. If this is here and you dont need it, delete it... this will then recognize your server as the primary for DNS.
FIFTH (part 2)
MAKE SURE YOU DO ALL OF THESE STEPS FOR THE REVERSE LOOKUP ZONE AS WELL!!
Make sure a reverse lookup zone is created as well, that is a common mistake too. If there is not one, CREATE IT!
SIXTH
Now, Go to a DOS promopt and type this in on the SERVER
ipconfig /flushdns
then do this
ipconfig /registerdns
Then do a nslookup and see what you get!! If it works, your golden, if not, then go with someone elses suggestions.
Try all of this and see if it works, it worked for me (many times over)... PLEASE let me know if it did or did not work as I need to write this up somewhere for newbies (like myself) who have troubles getting DNS to give a correct "nslookup" reply on the clients and the server with initial installation. Once this is done, you should not have any other errors in your event viewer either registering to DNS (make sure to verify it though).
Make sure on the clients you do the the SIXTH step for them as well... and then try nslookup.
GOOD LUCK!
Chance~
