Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix error 9701 Error – Events 8038 and 8020. The system failed to update DNS (error 9701)

DNS update failure on Windows 10 with Event IDs 8038 and 8020.

Quick Answer: Disable Fast Startup, ensure DNS server is configured correctly, and try IPCONFIG /RENEW or IPCONFIG /REGISTERDNS.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
  2. 🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The system failed to update DNS records on a Windows 10 client, causing issues with network connectivity. This error affects users who rely on DNS for their online activities and can be frustrating when trying to troubleshoot the issue.

This problem is particularly challenging because it only occurs under specific circumstances, making it difficult to pinpoint the root cause. However, by following the steps outlined below, you should be able to resolve the issue and get your DNS records updated correctly.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary reason for this error is related to the way Windows handles DNS updates. When a client's IP address changes, it needs to update its DNS records accordingly. However, in some cases, Windows may fail to do so, leading to connectivity issues.
  • Another possible cause is related to the DHCP reservation on the router. If the DHCP reservation is not correctly configured or if there are issues with the DNS server, it can prevent the client from updating its DNS records.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Update DNS Records using IPCONFIG

  1. Step 1: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the command `ipconfig /release` to release the current IP address.
  2. Step 2: Run the command `ipconfig /renew` to obtain a new IP address from the DHCP server.
  3. Step 3: Verify that the DNS records have been updated correctly by running the command `ipconfig /registerdns`.

Disable and Re-enable Network Adapter

  1. Step 1: Open Device Manager and find the network adapter with the settings you want to update.
  2. Step 2: Right-click on the adapter and select `Disable device`. Wait for 10 seconds and then enable it again.

💡 Conclusion

To resolve this issue, try updating DNS records using IPCONFIG or disabling and re-enabling the network adapter. If these steps do not work, you may need to investigate further with your router settings and ensure that DHCP reservations are correctly configured.

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