DNS flush, what is it and is it necessary

Fred22 · 30 Apr 2017

I just installed Chrome on my laptop (which I'm now using) and a friend told me I needed to defrag and do a DNS flush by writing in cmd ipconfigflushdns. Defrag is already done, but his instructions were to go to the Windows tab and search bar at the bottom to type in this command. Defrag is already done, but I'm not sure what he means by the Windows tab and search bar is not at the bottom of Chrome. My question is this: is a DNS flush necessary and what does it do? He also said I needed to purchase software to do something to History. I'll have to reread his instructions, but hopd you know what he means. Thanks in advance.

WOT · 30 Apr 2017

It is not necessary as long as you internet connections are working properly; however, I think he meant the following:

http://www.wikihow.com/Flush-DNS

Digital Life · 30 Apr 2017

Windows will take care of your hard drive all on it's own, Weather it's a SSD or spinning hard drive.

Brink from TenForums has a tutorial on this subject
Optimize and Defrag Drives in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

By default, Optimize Drives, previously called Disk Defragmenter, runs automatically on a weekly schedule at the time set in automatic maintenance. But you can also optimize drives on your PC manually.

As for flushing your DNS it is unnecessary unless your having problems with your internet that in my experience hardly ever works unless your having problems with only one web site.

Brink has a tutorial on this too:
Flush DNS Resolver Cache in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Network Sharing Tutorials

If the IP address of a website changes before your DNS cache updates, you may not be able to load the webpage. If you are running into a lot of Page Not Found errors and you know you are connected to the Internet, you could try flushing your DNS cache to have your computer request new information.

It was designed to make your frequently visited web sites load faster. I actually disable this service in Windows (DNS client) because I block a lot of sites with my HOSTS file.

Bottom line is:
Is your friend smart -- I don't know
Is it broke -- don't try to fix something that ain't broke
It is broke -- come here to TenForums and ask how to fix it

I have been using computers for over 20 years and have found that the worst virus you will ever get is a friends advice.

Caledon Ken · 30 Apr 2017

Since the flush dns seems to be addressed as well as defrag what are you trying to do with Chrome History?

If you want to delete the Chrome history, Chrome has settings to handle. Click on three dots, upper right, click on settings, click on Show advance settings, bottom of page, click on clear browsing data.

A window opens allowing you to determine what to delete and how much of it. Be aware that if you sign in to Chrome you can sync history across devices.

Was there something else you wanted to do with History?

Ken

TairikuOkami · 30 Apr 2017

Fred22 said:

I'll have to reread his instructions, but hopd you know what he means.

Considering his suggestions and the new law, which allows ISP to sell your browsing data, I guess he tries to improve your privacy. To sum it up, you could use non-ISP DNS via dnscrypt (so DNS requests will be encrypted) and CCleaner (it cleans history and flushes DNS cache) and that is just for starters.

Top 10 Best Public DNS Servers & Fastest DNS Servers 2017

Fred22 · 30 Apr 2017

Caledon Ken said:

Since the flush dns seems to be addressed as well as defrag what are you trying to do with Chrome History?

If you want to delete the Chrome history, Chrome has settings to handle. Click on three dots, upper right, click on settings, click on Show advance settings, bottom of page, click on clear browsing data.

A window opens allowing you to determine what to delete and how much of it. Be aware that if you sign in to Chrome you can sync history across devices.

Was there something else you wanted to do with History?

Ken

I don't really know, Ken but I did the DNS flush and I did the optimize routine, but I noticed that my PC is set to optimize on a weekly basis I believe. I'm leaving the history alone. As someone else responding to this post said, "I have been using computers for over 20 years and have found that the worst virus you will ever get is a friends advice." If it ain't broke don't try to fix it.

Fred22 · 30 Apr 2017

sml156 said:

Windows will take care of your hard drive all on it's own, Weather it's a SSD or spinning hard drive.

Brink from TenForums has a tutorial on this subject
Thanks...I've defragged and did the DNS flush...leaving history alone.
Optimize and Defrag Drives in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

As for flushing your DNS it is unnecessary unless your having problems with your internet that in my experience hardly ever works unless your having problems with only one web site.

Brink has a tutorial on this too:
Flush DNS Resolver Cache in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Network Sharing Tutorials

It was designed to make your frequently visited web sites load faster. I actually disable this service in Windows (DNS client) because I block a lot of sites with my HOSTS file.

Bottom line is:
Is your friend smart -- I don't know
Is it broke -- don't try to fix something that ain't broke
It is broke -- come here to TenForums and ask how to fix it

I have been using computers for over 20 years and have found that the worst virus you will ever get is a friends advice.

I agree. I Optimized, but noticed that my PC is set for regular optimization...leaving history alone. /as you said, If it ain't broke don't try to fix it.