Weird windows-only DNS problems with talktalk router


  1. heapug
    Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Home 64
       New #1

    Weird windows-only DNS problems with talktalk router


    For the last month, with Windows 10 v. 1803, 1810 and 1903 on Dell and HP laptops, I've had the most bizarre intermittent DNS errors on both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connection to my TalkTalk HG633 router.

    Even while the problem exists, the Windows tray network indicator tells me there is an Internet connection, which indeed there is, because if, from the command window, I ping (for example) 74.8.144.137 I get a response, but if I ping yahoo.co.uk (the same address), it says "Pinging yahoo.co.uk on 129.129.129.129" and of course gets no response. Moreover, ping requests to any www address is directed to the same 129.129.129.129 This is totally crazy because this Swiss address belongs to Telenor Norge AS, who owns all 129.129.129.xxx.

    MS Network Troubleshooter can't resolve the problem, and the only (temporary) fix is for me to switch between Ethernet, 5GHZ and 2.4GHZ, because every time I change the network connection, correct DNS is restored for an indeterminate period until the problem inevitably returns.

    I have tried changing Windows network device DNS setting to google on 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4, but this doesn't fix anything, maybe because it's actually trying to connect to 8.8.8.8 via this crazy 129 address...??.

    The problem never occurs while I am connected to next door's Sky WiFi, or the PlusNet WiFi on the neighbours the other side; and while it is happening on my Windows PC, other devices in the house (Android TV and phones, and a Chromebook) continue unaffected.

    Anyone out there who can help? According to google search, the same problem has been reported a couple of times before in 2016, but never explained or resolved.
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  3. Samuria
    Posts : 8,102
    windows 10
       New #2

    Welcome to the forum. Open a CMD prompt type
    Ipconfig /all

    Post results check the router is there a DNS set on the router?
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  4. MikeMecanic
    Posts : 1,079
    10 + Linux
       New #3

    Swiss Intruder: 129.129.129.129-255


    Quick search: IP range seems to be 129.129.129.129 to 129.129.129.255.

    Kick them out in the firewall with an Inbound rule.

    cp admin with Inbound Rule Active:
    Code:
    ping 129.129.129.129
Pinging 129.129.129.129 with 32 bytes of data:Request timed out.
Request timed out.Request timed out.Request timed out.Ping statistics for 129.129.129.129:    
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

ping 129.129.129.255
Pinging 129.129.129.255 with 32 bytes of data:Request timed out.
Request timed out.Request timed out.Request timed out.Ping statistics for 129.129.129.255
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),
    Cortana: Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security on Local Computer

    Are you able to create a new Inbound Rule = New Rule>Custom>All Programs>>Protocol type>Any>Next>These IP Adresses>Add>This IP Adress Range: 129.129.129.129 to 129.129.129.255>Block the connection>All Domain>Label the rule>Finish

    Right click on the rule (properties) and label it in the description (screenshot). Apply change. The rule is actice and Swiss Intruder's out.

    All the best,

    Edit: IP range is unreachable. See there for any suspicious entries:
    system32\drivers\etc\hosts
    Consider resetting the router to see if the problem remains. Please Copy/paste << ipconfig /all >>.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Weird windows-only DNS problems with talktalk router-swiss_intruder.png  
    Last edited by MikeMecanic; 11 Jun 2019 at 22:25.
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  6. heapug
    Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Home 64
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Many thanks for replies


    @ Samuria & MikeMechanic
    Sorry for delay in acknowledging your replies -- was trying things out...
    Had already messed with firewall and done all the ipconfig stuff (as i mentioned in O.P., I'd tried using google DNS, which didn't help)
    However, after making O.P. I found it didn't happen if I logged on from Ubuntu 19.04.
    But then when I went back to Windows 10, it only happened one more time, and then, without me changing anything on router or Windows DNS settings (by that time back to using router for DNS) it just suddenly stopped happening -- well, not for last 5 days anyway...
    But anyway, thanks again for taking the trouble to reply so quick.
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  7. bro67
    Posts : 9,788
    Mac OS Catalina
       New #5

    Check the hosts file at %WinDir%\System32\Drivers\Etc. Use this tool to fix. Download Tweaking.com - Repair Hosts File - MajorGeeks
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  8. heapug
    Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Home 64
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    @ bro67 : thanks for suggestion, and apologies for not mentioning in my O.P. that it was also one of the first things I checked when the problem first appeared.
    I just have the standard unaltered MS hosts file with no live entries.
    And still no sign of problem recurring, so perhaps whatever strange gremlin caused it has gone to find a new victim to annoy and frustrate...
    As I mentioned in my O.P., a google search revealed that I am not entirely alone in suffering this odd problem. (Someone in 2017 reported similar, which he thought he'd fixed by using google's DNS. This didn't work for me, so maybe the gremlin decided to leave him alone at about the same time as he changed DNS sever, which he then attributed to the changed he'd just made....??...)
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