How to flush the DNS Cache in Windows 7 / Vista ?

DNS cache store stores name resolution information of websites you visit, network shares, application servers, etc. This will also fix corrupted DNS cache in Windows 7/Vista. First, you need to start the "elevated" command prompt:

Click the Windows Start button > All Programs > Accessories
RIGHT-CLICK Command Prompt, select "Run As Administrator"
In the command window type the following command and hit Enter:

ipconfig /flushdns

The following message indicates success:
Windows IP Configuration
Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.


If flushing DNS cache does not fix corrupt or bad DNS issue, you can stop/disable the DNS cache client service to turn off DNS caching. To temporarily disable DNS caching, use the following commands in elevated command prompt:

net stop dnscache
net start dnscache

Notes: If you don't flush the DNS cache in elevated command prompt (administrator priviledges), you will get an error: "The requested operation requires elevation."
The "ipconfig /flushdns" command works under Windows XP/2k3 as well.
You can also disable DNS caching by stopping the DNS client service: Navigate to Start > Run, type "Services.msc", find the DNS client service and stop it.