Mac Address

[Guest]

Hi !

Does anyone knows how to change mac address?
Im trying in Network Card Properties | Advanced tab
Network Address setting. While in registry it seems to be ok,
when im typing ipconfig /all it shows old mac addr.
I tryed like 1000 tons of different drivers, i used SMAC and nothing...
wtf? So there is no possibility to change mac in Vista?
It's strange cuz in RC1 i had no problems with it.
Network Card is Broadcom Gigabit.

Thanks 4 any info
Cheers
Cris

 

[Dave B.]

You can't change it, it's hard coded into the NIC.

 

[Joe Moore]

The MAC address is HARD-CODED by the manufacturer of the NIC. There is NO
way to change it.

Joe Moore

 

[Cris]

The MAC address is HARD-CODED by the manufacturer of the NIC. There is NO
way to change it.

omg... in 2000, XP, 2003, Vista RC1, Linux it is/was not a problem to change
it.
Now u guys are telling me that in Vista RC2 is HARD-CODED and system dosent
allow
me to change it? If that so, i think its kind of lame


C.

 

[Dave B.]

Has nothing to do with Linux, XP, 2003 or anything, it has ALWAYS been hard
coded, you couldn't change it in ANY Operating System.
Could you perhaps be confusing MAC with IP?

 

[R. McCarty]

You couldn't/wouldn't want to change a MAC address. They must
be unique. Manufacturer's must get allocation ranges of addresses
to use. The actual MAC address contains two components, the
identifier of the manufacturer and the serial # of the unit itself.

 

[Richard Urban]

It is hard coded by the network card manufacturer in the network card
itself. Each LAN adapter is absolutely unique in that respect. If there were
2 cards with the same Mac address on a companies LAN, think of all the
problems you would have.

There are programs that may be able to change the MAC address after it has
been detected, and recorded, by the operating system. Google for them.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Alexander Suhovey]

Has nothing to do with Linux, XP, 2003 or anything, it has ALWAYS been
hard coded, you couldn't change it in ANY Operating System.

Dave, you should look at SMAC.
http://www.klcconsulting.net/smac/

 

[Dave B.]

I am aware of 3rd party apps such as that one, I was trying to make the
point that no Windows OS has the ability to do it as the poster claimed that
previous versions of Windows had this ability.

 

[Mark Gillespie]

Hi !

Does anyone knows how to change mac address?
Im trying in Network Card Properties | Advanced tab
Network Address setting. While in registry it seems to be ok,
when im typing ipconfig /all it shows old mac addr.
I tryed like 1000 tons of different drivers, i used SMAC and nothing...
wtf? So there is no possibility to change mac in Vista?
It's strange cuz in RC1 i had no problems with it.
Network Card is Broadcom Gigabit.

Thanks 4 any info
Cheers
Cris

Are you sure you mean MAC address, not IP Address?

As mentioned, the MAC adress is burned into the network card at
manufacturer, and has never been configurable. IP Address on the other
hand is one of the most changed network settings...

 

[Cris]

Has nothing to do with Linux, XP, 2003 or anything, it has ALWAYS been
hard
coded, you couldn't change it in ANY Operating System.
Could you perhaps be confusing MAC with IP?

No, im not confusing MAC with IP ....
Check on your Network Setting tab, u can change MAC of course not
pernamently
but only for time beeing. This option is avaiable from Windows 2000 and in
Linux
since always (ipconfig ethX hw ether MAC). Like i sad, i was able to change
MAC (physical address
of network card) on 2000, XP, RC1 etc.

C.

 

[Cris]

It is hard coded by the network card manufacturer in the network card
itself. Each LAN adapter is absolutely unique in that respect. If there
were 2 cards with the same Mac address on a companies LAN, think of all
the problems you would have.

Yes, i know that. But like i sad, in previous Windows systems it was
possible to do that, right now it isnt, even so in driver settings is tab
for changing MAC.

There are programs that may be able to change the MAC address after it has
been detected, and recorded, by the operating system. Google for them.

I tried them, for instance SMAC, it doesnt work.

C.

 

[Dave B.]

Look at the solution Alex provided

No, im not confusing MAC with IP ....
Check on your Network Setting tab, u can change MAC of course not
pernamently
but only for time beeing. This option is avaiable from Windows 2000 and
in Linux
since always (ipconfig ethX hw ether MAC). Like i sad, i was able to
change MAC (physical address
of network card) on 2000, XP, RC1 etc.

C.

 

[DCR]

Network Settings Tab of what?
Where do you find this Tab?

|
| > Has nothing to do with Linux, XP, 2003 or anything, it has ALWAYS been
| > hard
| > coded, you couldn't change it in ANY Operating System.
| > Could you perhaps be confusing MAC with IP?
|
| No, im not confusing MAC with IP ....
| Check on your Network Setting tab, u can change MAC of course not
| pernamently
| but only for time beeing. This option is avaiable from Windows 2000 and in
| Linux
| since always (ipconfig ethX hw ether MAC). Like i sad, i was able to change
| MAC (physical address
| of network card) on 2000, XP, RC1 etc.
|
| C.
|

 

[Cris]

As mentioned, the MAC adress is burned into the network card at

manufacturer, and has never been configurable. IP Address on the other
hand is one of the most changed network settings...

I know that, but it was possible to change it, using proper drivers or 3th
party
software. Like i sad, im changing MACs like forever, in RC1 changeg MAC
worked perfectly in RC2 it doesnt work.

If any one of u have XP/2000/2003 or Vista RC1, check Network Driver
Settings - Advanced Settings - Network
Address and change it to anyting u want (000102030405) and then using
ipconfig /all u can check
that mac address was sucsefull changed......


C.

 

[Cris]

Look at the solution Alex provided

i tried smac already. Dosent work


C.

 

[Cris]

Network Settings Tab of what?
Where do you find this Tab?

Your Network Card Properties (in my case Broadcom Properties) - Configure -
Advance - Network Address
check box near Value and type new Mac address (it must be supported by
driver - rtl8029 dosent support this for instance) .


C.

 

[DCR]

OK
Works as you describe in XP

|> As mentioned, the MAC adress is burned into the network card at
| > manufacturer, and has never been configurable. IP Address on the other
| > hand is one of the most changed network settings...
|
|
| I know that, but it was possible to change it, using proper drivers or 3th
| party
| software. Like i sad, im changing MACs like forever, in RC1 changeg MAC
| worked perfectly in RC2 it doesnt work.
|
| If any one of u have XP/2000/2003 or Vista RC1, check Network Driver
| Settings - Advanced Settings - Network
| Address and change it to anyting u want (000102030405) and then using
| ipconfig /all u can check
| that mac address was sucsefull changed......
|
|
| C.
|

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Some ... let me say it again, SOME ... network card manufacturers allowed
you to change the MAC address in the Windows drivers they provided. Not all
did. If the network card you have now used to but doesn't let you, then you
need to contact the NETWORK CARD MANUFACTURER for assistance. Windows never
did this, and never will.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Cris]

Some ... let me say it again, SOME ... network card manufacturers allowed
you to change the MAC address in the Windows drivers they provided. Not
all did. If the network card you have now used to but doesn't let you,
then you need to contact the NETWORK CARD MANUFACTURER for assistance.
Windows never did this, and never will.

I think u not reading my posts with attention.
Like i sad, drivers (btw. provided by MS) for this card in all Windows
familly I N C L U D I N G - attention this
is important - Windows Vista RC1 where giving me possibility to change MAC
adress and worked perfectly.
As i mentioned abow - again important - in RC1 it was working fine and it
was exactly this same driver as in RC2 !!


C.