I could not find a Windows 7 discussion group, which seems to mean that Win 7
users go to Vista groups. My ISP, Earthlink delivered by Comcast cable, says
the only way I can get out of their very much unwanted Earthlink Search
Assistant is to change the DNS numbers to, apparently. two preset numbers
selected by a radio button in my Windows programs. My question is whether
choosing this option has additional consequences and if those are likely to
be good or bad for me re security, speed, etc. The Earthlink Toolbar is not
installed; Earthlink just jams Search Assistant on you anyway because you use
their email service, taking any terms you search on in Google that did not
work, and displaying it on the Earthlink help site. Not welcome; probably
barely legal--I don't know about that

Hi
Using another DNS should not be a problem.
You can try 4.2.2.2 & 4.2.2.3
Win 7 public support is here.
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...stdesc&lc=1033
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).


"Tom461" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:0BC46FA0-CB4E-4C88-8AD1-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I could not find a Windows 7 discussion group, which seems to mean that Win
>7
> users go to Vista groups. My ISP, Earthlink delivered by Comcast cable,
> says
> the only way I can get out of their very much unwanted Earthlink Search
> Assistant is to change the DNS numbers to, apparently. two preset numbers
> selected by a radio button in my Windows programs. My question is whether
> choosing this option has additional consequences and if those are likely
> to
> be good or bad for me re security, speed, etc. The Earthlink Toolbar is
> not
> installed; Earthlink just jams Search Assistant on you anyway because you
> use
> their email service, taking any terms you search on in Google that did not
> work, and displaying it on the Earthlink help site. Not welcome; probably
> barely legal--I don't know about that

Thanks for providing me with alternative fixed DNS's. But what about the
general issue of moving from a flexible DNS to some fixed DNS? A few web
postings indicate this can be problematic, that flexible DNS numbers are more
reliable. I don't know about security issues here--way beyond my pay grade.

"Jack [MVP-Networking]" wrote:

> Hi
> Using another DNS should not be a problem.
> You can try 4.2.2.2 & 4.2.2.3
> Win 7 public support is here.
> http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...stdesc&lc=1033
> Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).
>
>
> "Tom461" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:0BC46FA0-CB4E-4C88-8AD1-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I could not find a Windows 7 discussion group, which seems to mean that Win
> >7
> > users go to Vista groups. My ISP, Earthlink delivered by Comcast cable,
> > says
> > the only way I can get out of their very much unwanted Earthlink Search
> > Assistant is to change the DNS numbers to, apparently. two preset numbers
> > selected by a radio button in my Windows programs. My question is whether
> > choosing this option has additional consequences and if those are likely
> > to
> > be good or bad for me re security, speed, etc. The Earthlink Toolbar is
> > not
> > installed; Earthlink just jams Search Assistant on you anyway because you
> > use
> > their email service, taking any terms you search on in Google that did not
> > work, and displaying it on the Earthlink help site. Not welcome; probably
> > barely legal--I don't know about that
>
> .
>

On Feb 26, 3:19*pm, Tom461 <Tom...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Thanks for providing me with alternative fixed DNS's. But what about the
> general issue of moving from a flexible DNS to some fixed DNS? A few web
> postings indicate this can be problematic, that flexible DNS numbers are more
> reliable. I don't know about security issues here--way beyond my pay grade.
>
> "Jack [MVP-Networking]" wrote:
> > Hi
> > Using another DNS should not be a problem.
> > You can try 4.2.2.2 & 4.2.2.3
> > Win 7 public support is here.
> >http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...onetworking/th...
> > Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).
>
> > "Tom461" <Tom...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >news:0BC46FA0-CB4E-4C88-8AD1-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > >I could not find a Windows 7 discussion group, which seems to mean that Win
> > >7
> > > users go to Vista groups. My ISP, Earthlink delivered by Comcast cable,
> > > says
> > > the only way I can get out of their very much unwanted Earthlink Search
> > > Assistant is to change the DNS numbers to, apparently. two preset numbers
> > > selected by a radio button in my Windows programs. My question is whether
> > > choosing this option has additional consequences and if those are likely
> > > to
> > > be good or bad for me re security, speed, etc. The Earthlink Toolbar is
> > > not
> > > installed; Earthlink just jams Search Assistant on you anyway becauseyou
> > > use
> > > their email service, taking any terms you search on in Google that did not
> > > work, and displaying it on the Earthlink help site. Not welcome; probably
> > > barely legal--I don't know about that
>
> > .

4.2.2.2 & 4.2.2.3 DNS server seems to be an up to date DNS service.

Take a look at OpenDNS.org. This offers a free service which allows
you complete control on the settings.

On Feb 26, 3:19*pm, Tom461 <Tom...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Thanks for providing me with alternative fixed DNS's. But what about the
> general issue of moving from a flexible DNS to some fixed DNS? A few web
> postings indicate this can be problematic, that flexible DNS numbers are more
> reliable. I don't know about security issues here--way beyond my pay grade.
>
> "Jack [MVP-Networking]" wrote:
> > Hi
> > Using another DNS should not be a problem.
> > You can try 4.2.2.2 & 4.2.2.3
> > Win 7 public support is here.
> >http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...onetworking/th...
> > Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).
>
> > "Tom461" <Tom...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >news:0BC46FA0-CB4E-4C88-8AD1-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > >I could not find a Windows 7 discussion group, which seems to mean that Win
> > >7
> > > users go to Vista groups. My ISP, Earthlink delivered by Comcast cable,
> > > says
> > > the only way I can get out of their very much unwanted Earthlink Search
> > > Assistant is to change the DNS numbers to, apparently. two preset numbers
> > > selected by a radio button in my Windows programs. My question is whether
> > > choosing this option has additional consequences and if those are likely
> > > to
> > > be good or bad for me re security, speed, etc. The Earthlink Toolbar is
> > > not
> > > installed; Earthlink just jams Search Assistant on you anyway becauseyou
> > > use
> > > their email service, taking any terms you search on in Google that did not
> > > work, and displaying it on the Earthlink help site. Not welcome; probably
> > > barely legal--I don't know about that
>
> > .

Also, the "flexibility" DNS might not always contain the latest
updates nor would contain the security "patches" to the DNS severing
software.