Windows name to ip resolution order

Oder of resolution for TCP/IP names to IP for Windows environment:

1.  Local cached information. Can be cleared using ipconfig /flushdns.
2.  Hosts file
3. DNS server
4. NetBIOS over TCP/IP
   

In older versions of Windows up to NT 4.0, the priority can be configured through system.ini section [DNS]. The said section cannot be found in XP SP3, it might be still working and defaults normal resolution order if the section is not defined.

Resources:
Link 1
Link 2

~ts