What is the Primary DNS Suffix and where do I find it, please?

Question

_{Saturday, January 23, 2016 2:31 PM | 1 vote}

A friend here yesterday helping me resolve some post-Free Upgrade to Win10 problems on my older PC. He was slightly confused when he saw it was described in one screen as 'Win7 laptop'. I hadn't changed it so thought I should.

On that screen there were two places to change it - I changed it in the first place and it was accepted/processed but to proceed in the second, it asked me for the Primary DNS Suffix.

What is it and where do I find it please?

I'm probably categorised in the Microsoft description of Users as "-1 Dumbo" and I feel as if I'm in the holiest of holies so please be gentle with me! ;o)

I first posted it in the Microsoft Community but this potato was too hot for them and left scorch marks so they referred me here.

[Can't find a 'signature' so in case it helps here are my PCs. It's the second one on which I need help: HP Envy Win10 PC 1511 Build 10586.36 and Compaq Presario CQ71 Win10 Upgraded 1511 build 10586.63 ]

On a serious and personal note, I hope that all our US friends here, and their families, are kept safe during what looks like an appalling Snow storm.

PS Is this the home of Sysinternals? I've been waiting for a reply from the MS Community about a nagging problem found by Autoruns and no-one has answered,

All replies (19)

_{Sunday, February 14, 2016 4:26 PM ✅Answered}

What name are you trying to use? The error states 'One or more of the characters you typed won't work'. Is that a space? That will not work.

From ComputerName

"ComputerName is a string with a maximum length of 15 bytes of content:

• ComputerName can use ASCII characters (1 byte each) and/or multi-byte characters such as Kanji, so long as you do not exceed 15 bytes of content.
• ComputerName cannot use spaces or any of the following characters: { | } ~ [ \ ] ^ ' : ; < = > ? @ ! " # $ % ` ( ) + / . , * &, or contain any spaces.
• ComputerName cannot use some non-standard characters, such as emoji."

_{Saturday, January 23, 2016 3:44 PM}

Can you explain what screen it was described as a Windows 7 Laptops? Cannot think what that would be and may help to clarify what the issue is.

Primary DNS Suffix can be viewed from an ipconfig command, right click start open Command Prompt. Enter;

ipconfig /all

That will show serval adaptors some used in the backup, find the main adaptor near the top listed as Ethernet adapter Ethernet0 or Ethernet adapter Wifi or similar. The DNS suffix is listed as 'Connection-specific DNS Suffix'. No sure what that would be needed for a home pc so interest in point one what software screen is asking for this.

PS Windows Sysinternals main page, http://forum.sysinternals.com/ and http://forum.sysinternals.com/autoruns_forum16.html

_{Saturday, January 23, 2016 4:29 PM}

TAFFY

Care to tel us what the Autorun problem is?

Regarding DNS care to tell us exactly what you did and where?

Wanikiya and Dyami--Team Zigzag Windows IT-PRO (MS-MVP)

_{Monday, January 25, 2016 7:58 AM}

Hi Taffy,

A DNS suffix is the DNS name without the hostname part.

We know that any computer that joined an active directory domain will receive an additional part to the name which will compose the actually FQDN of the computer, like for example comp1.compinfopro.com. At the same time, this computer also receives the domain name as a primary DNS suffix.

And in order to help you quickly, please tell us what do you want to do?

You could configure the primary DNS suffix for a client computer as the following guide:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-in/library/cc786695(v=ws.10).aspx

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help, and unmark the answers if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact [email protected].

_{Wednesday, January 27, 2016 6:31 PM}

Hello Mr. Happy. it was in Settings/About and when I clicked Rename PC that's where the two stages appeared. I just ignored the second stage where it asked me for the Primary DNS Suffix - what I did worked. I haven't noticed any problems.

I tried to recreate the two stages just now by renaming my new PC. It won't let me per the attached!***

Hello ZigZag3143 - I have this program that can't be found during start up. I clicked on it to remove it but it comes back next time. [I ran Autorun as Administrator.]

*** Sorry but I can't post this reply with my snip in it. "We have to verify your account". I'll try again soon.

_{Wednesday, January 27, 2016 6:40 PM}

Hello ZigZag3143 - I have a program CPUZ136 that can't be found during start up. (I've scanned my old PC and it's not a nasty - perhaps part of an old nasty?)

I clicked on it to remove it but it comes back next time. [I ran Autorun as Administrator.]

Post free-upgrade to Win10, Autorun has found a huge number of program that can't be found eg Windows Media Center. I thought Microsoft had to unbundle that, and I've never used it anyway. Should I start a separate thread about this one?

You'll see that I couldn't post my reply above with a snip as there was a message that my account had to be verified. I've just had a thought = perhaps verifying my account is a 'while I wait' check, not one that is done over a long time period. I'll try to attach both snips. Here goes. Nope - I'll try to send the snips separately

_{Wednesday, January 27, 2016 6:47 PM}

Tried just to post the snip.

Message on screen from webpage: "Body text cannot contain images or links until we are able to verify your account."

How long does this take, please?

_{Wednesday, January 27, 2016 6:47 PM}

Tried just to post the snip.

Message on screen from webpage: "Body text cannot contain images or links until we are able to verify your account."

How long does this take, please?

_{Wednesday, January 27, 2016 6:49 PM}

Hi Karen. I simply wanted to rename my older PC as it is no longer a Win7 laptop. I'm afraid all the rest is way over my head. :0)

_{Wednesday, January 27, 2016 10:58 PM}

Still cannot see a requirement for DNS suffix in renaming a PC from Settings > System > About. But heyho maybe now a non issue now.

Verify Your Account 33 put a reply on that with a simple verify my account please request.

Have you scanned for malware recently? Perhaps screenshots would help with the autorun issue as not sure what the issue is. I see Windows Media Player listed for me in this a recent clean Windows 10 on a recent Insider Build. Right click it, choose Run as Administrator, find Media Player again, right click it again and delete.

EDIT - I did correct this link sometime ago so the OP is correct it was wrong when posted.

_{Thursday, January 28, 2016 2:36 AM}

Tried just to post the snip.

Message on screen from webpage: "Body text cannot contain images or links until we are able to verify your account."

How long does this take, please?

If you are being told you cant post a link, or embed a picture (or any other restriction) you just need to post to this thread saying your account has not been validated

Look for the verify your account thread that is stuck to the top of the page.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/home?forum=reportabug

Read more here http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/9fe32cfb-ed1c-4b9d-93d9-7ff32b0106a3/verify-your-account-16?forum=reportabug

Wanikiya and Dyami--Team Zigzag Windows IT-PRO (MS-MVP)

_{Thursday, January 28, 2016 10:54 AM}

Sorry Mr Happy but your link Verify Your Account 33 goes to a 'Page not Found'.

EDIT - just found it by Searching. but there's no sticky at the top Zig Zag. I've replied to the Verify Your ACcount33 thread

but although the buttons are no longer greyed out, I'm still getting that 'need to verify' message.

After six hours on my PC I need a break so I'll shut down and try again later

_{Monday, February 1, 2016 8:58 AM}

Sorry Mr Happy but your link Verify Your Account 33 goes to a 'Page not Found'.

EDIT - just found it by Searching. but there's no sticky at the top Zig Zag. I've replied to the Verify Your ACcount33 thread

but although the buttons are no longer greyed out, I'm still getting that 'need to verify' message.

After six hours on my PC I need a break so I'll shut down and try again later

Any update?

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help, and unmark the answers if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact [email protected].

_{Thursday, February 11, 2016 1:28 PM}

sorry I've not got back but I've had bigger problems to resolve.  

This week's Windows Updates has caused chaos - on my old PC the Start Menu has gone on another User Account - my Administrator UA.

The damage is worse on my brand new Win10 laptop. I have lost all my documents and folders on which I spent many hours with help IN THIS THREAD. I've also lost all of My Pictures.

Heralded as fixing 36 flaws it has screwed up many many more than 36 PCs. There's a growing number of queries in the MS Community and I'm now lost for words as to what to do next. Some workarounds look too hard for me.

I've been very disciplined and didn't create a new thread here - that would have been wrong but

Here's my thread

Chaos caused by latest Windows Updates,

HP Envy Win10 PC 1511 Build 10586.36 and Compaq Presario CQ71 Win10 Upgraded 1511 build 10586.63

_{Sunday, February 14, 2016 8:48 AM}

I've just tried to rename my new laptop. The DNS-Suffix message didn't appear but it won't let me rename it - see this: I can't see any instruction to 'Run as Administrator' so what can I do next, please?

HP Envy Win10 PC 1511 Build 10586.36 and Compaq Presario CQ71 Win10 Upgraded 1511 build 10586.63

_{Tuesday, February 16, 2016 6:34 AM}

It was the space. So we'll never know why it asked me for the "primary dns suffix" last time! Perhaps the latest Windows Updates changed something or it was connected with the Upgrade problems on the other laptop.

Thank you all for your help - much appreciated.

HP Envy Win10 PC 1511 Build 10586.36 and Compaq Presario CQ71 Win10 Upgraded 1511 build 10586.63

_{Tuesday, February 16, 2016 11:47 PM}

I spoke too soon. This is what is showing, after several restarts:

And left-clicking the Start Menu icon doesn't work now - I've thrown that at the Community Forum.

HP Envy Win10 PC 1511 Build 10586.36 and Compaq Presario CQ71 Win10 Upgraded 1511 build 10586.63

_{Wednesday, February 17, 2016 12:28 AM}

Just a hunch this might not be changing due to fast start-up, see http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4189-fast-startup-turn-off-windows-10-a.html disable fast start up. Shut the system down. Count too 10, clap 5 times and try again.

_{Thursday, June 28, 2018 3:35 PM}

Open the control Panel then go to the system icon and open it. I believe that's what you are looking for.