This condition may be caused by a DNS lookup problem (FWLINK 5171)

I was reminded of the infamous forward link 5171 today. We had quite a time figuring out all the circumstances in which people were getting this message with the following words "This condition may be caused by a DNS lookup problem" and then displayed a link to the Microsoft Web site https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=5171. Our team, working with CSS and the product group, eventually identified three circumstances that produced error messages that were pointing people to this link:

  1. Creating a domain using the Active Directory Installation Wizard.
    •  Error text may include: Wizard cannot gain access to the list of domains in the forest
    • Error text may include: The domain <name> cannot be contacted. Ensure the domain name is typed correctly. This condition may be caused by a DNS lookup problem. If this domain was recently created, its name may not yet be registered with the Domain Naming Service. For information about troubleshooting common DNS lookup problems, please see the following Microsoft Web Site: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=5171.
  2. Attempting to replicate a connection using Active Directory Sites and Services.
    • Error test may include: The following error occurred during the attempt to synchronize the domain controllers:
  3. Trying to add a computer to a domain.
    • Error text may include: The following error occurred validating the name <domainname>
    • Errot text may include: The following domain does not exist or cannot be contacted.

We worked with customer support services to address these three situations and then added a catch all DNS troubleshooting section. So, if you are facing one of these situations, the document should help you resolve the issue. The point of this posting is to help those people searching for the answer to find the appropriate troubleshooting document, which we named DNS Lookup Problem (https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc755909.aspx). If you happen to run into an issue that is resulting in an FWLINK 5171, please, post your feedback to this blog and/or as a comment on the troubleshooting article. We really appreciate the comments and help we've received in discovering and helping others to resolve these issues. Thank you!

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.