$100 to anyone who can fix my problem: unable to resolve hostnames

[Guest]

I have two computers on a lan connected via a linksys router, using Time
Warner's cable modem. Until recently, no problems.
Now, on the XP machine (6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519) from time to
time (i.e., several times a day), the computer cannot resolve hostnames. The
other computer (Win2K) on the lan has no problem, but the XP machine can't.
Email is unaffected; I can ping IP addresses but not hostnames. Rebooting
solves the problem for a while. I tried reversing the network plugs on the
router; no effect. I tried a winsock fix; no effect. I tried "repairing" my
network connection; no effect. There is nothing else obviously wrong with the
machine. No recent updates (apart from those from MS).

If I open a cmd prompt and ping -t <hostname>, that seems to keep the
problem at bay for a while (several hours); but that still fails. IN FACT, in
one cmd window, ping keeps returning a response from the hostname and the
same ping -t <hostname> in another cmd window (once the problem occurs) fails.

There are no other obvious problems.

ANY HELP IS **GREATLY** APPRECIATED $100 $100 $100
Sign me Totally Desperate RON

 

[Kevin]

Are you getting the DNS Error report when this happens? Your firewall makes
no complaint about this issue? Have you cleared the Temporary Internet
Files recently?

 

[Guest]

If this is a repeated reply, apologies.

There is no DNS Error Report (where would I find that)? There are no
complaints of any sort that I can find. The event logs show nothing amiss. I
cleared the temporary files, but I've done that recently.

The system is connected to the net via a linksys router and from there to
the Time Warner Cable modem. Perhaps I should get TM's DNS IP addresses and
put that in on the WINS tab. Will do that tomorrow.

The router was provided by Vonage.

 

[Kevin]

The DNS error is what is on the page that comes up when your browser can't
find a site.

 

[Guest]

Just the usual page not found. Tonight I'll get the actual pages but they are
very standard.