S
Sandra Clemmson
Is there a contact at Microsoft that will let you trace a registered XP
computer that was stolen?
computer that was stolen?
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J
Jeff
Not sure, but if your computer was stolen the hard drive will most likely be
wiped clean by the thief erasing the XP software.
Intel had what's called a Intel PSN (processor serial number). This
essentially allowed someone to theoretically track the habits of a user to
that particular computer. This PSN was turned off due to privacy issues. You
probably could track the MAC address on your Ethernet card, but who's to say
the Ethernet card is going to stay in the computer in the hands of the
theif.
--
HTH
- Jeff
[WINNT 4 - SP 6, XP, IE 6, Office 2000, XP Professional, 1 GIG RAM,
1 GHz Pentium 3, Matrox Millennium AGP, (3) 20 Gig HD]
wiped clean by the thief erasing the XP software.
Intel had what's called a Intel PSN (processor serial number). This
essentially allowed someone to theoretically track the habits of a user to
that particular computer. This PSN was turned off due to privacy issues. You
probably could track the MAC address on your Ethernet card, but who's to say
the Ethernet card is going to stay in the computer in the hands of the
theif.
--
HTH
- Jeff
[WINNT 4 - SP 6, XP, IE 6, Office 2000, XP Professional, 1 GIG RAM,
1 GHz Pentium 3, Matrox Millennium AGP, (3) 20 Gig HD]
S
Sandra Clemmson
Thank you for reply. But I would like to try anyway. I mailed the computer
to my son in the Navy (it was insured). Fortunately, I kept a copy of all
the info in the computer after registering it. So I do have the MAC
address. Do you any ideas on how I could track a MAC addresses or a
department in Microsoft I could query about the registered copy of XP?
to my son in the Navy (it was insured). Fortunately, I kept a copy of all
the info in the computer after registering it. So I do have the MAC
address. Do you any ideas on how I could track a MAC addresses or a
department in Microsoft I could query about the registered copy of XP?
Jeff said:Not sure, but if your computer was stolen the hard drive will most likely be
wiped clean by the thief erasing the XP software.
Intel had what's called a Intel PSN (processor serial number). This
essentially allowed someone to theoretically track the habits of a user to
that particular computer. This PSN was turned off due to privacy issues. You
probably could track the MAC address on your Ethernet card, but who's to say
the Ethernet card is going to stay in the computer in the hands of the
theif.
--
HTH
- Jeff
[WINNT 4 - SP 6, XP, IE 6, Office 2000, XP Professional, 1 GIG RAM,
1 GHz Pentium 3, Matrox Millennium AGP, (3) 20 Gig HD]
Sandra Clemmson said:Is there a contact at Microsoft that will let you trace a registered XP
computer that was stolen?
H
Harry Ohrn
No.
C
Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)
Unfortunately, Microsoft is not a policing agency. They have enough problems
trying to keep unscrupulous people from stealing their software. There are
companies out there that, for a price, sell software that can help in a
future situation. It must be installed "prior" to the theft!
trying to keep unscrupulous people from stealing their software. There are
companies out there that, for a price, sell software that can help in a
future situation. It must be installed "prior" to the theft!
J
Jeff
There's not much you can really do. With so many computers stolen or lost
these days, it would be a daunting task to try and recover one
..........especially since no one would be willing to use any of their
resources on the matter. Not much is even done when a car is stolen other
than adding it to a watch list database. Even if they could, Microsoft is
not in the business of tracking down lost or stolen computers.
"One out of every 10 notebook computers will be stolen within the first 12
months of purchase, and 90% of them will never be recovered."
- Federal Bureau of Investigation, annual statistics
Can you claim the computer loss on your home owners insurance? If so, buy a
new one and remember to backup all your vital information onto a CD-R(W).
Are concerned about vital information on your computer getting in the hands
of others? If so, I would limit the information you store on the hard drive.
Store the information on a CD-R(W). You can also purchase a program called
PGP Personal 8.0. This program has a couple great features:
- PGP Mail encrypts email, files, and instant messages and also provides the
ability to manage PGP keys.
- PGP Disk transparently creates volumes whose contents are encrypted when
not in use. [[[ for vital info that you want to keep on your computer]]]
You can contact your local police and give them your computer information.
The police are not going to look for it, but if it turns up, they will know
who it belongs too. You could try placing your computer on the websites
below. This might help if the computer turns up in the hands of police.
http://www.amcoex.com/Stolen/Stolen.html
http://itsbeenstolen.com/
--
HTH
- Jeff
[WINNT 4 - SP 6, XP, IE 6, Office 2000, XP Professional, 1 GIG RAM,
1 GHz Pentium 3, Matrox Millennium AGP, (3) 20 Gig HD]
these days, it would be a daunting task to try and recover one
..........especially since no one would be willing to use any of their
resources on the matter. Not much is even done when a car is stolen other
than adding it to a watch list database. Even if they could, Microsoft is
not in the business of tracking down lost or stolen computers.
"One out of every 10 notebook computers will be stolen within the first 12
months of purchase, and 90% of them will never be recovered."
- Federal Bureau of Investigation, annual statistics
Can you claim the computer loss on your home owners insurance? If so, buy a
new one and remember to backup all your vital information onto a CD-R(W).
Are concerned about vital information on your computer getting in the hands
of others? If so, I would limit the information you store on the hard drive.
Store the information on a CD-R(W). You can also purchase a program called
PGP Personal 8.0. This program has a couple great features:
- PGP Mail encrypts email, files, and instant messages and also provides the
ability to manage PGP keys.
- PGP Disk transparently creates volumes whose contents are encrypted when
not in use. [[[ for vital info that you want to keep on your computer]]]
You can contact your local police and give them your computer information.
The police are not going to look for it, but if it turns up, they will know
who it belongs too. You could try placing your computer on the websites
below. This might help if the computer turns up in the hands of police.
http://www.amcoex.com/Stolen/Stolen.html
http://itsbeenstolen.com/
--
HTH
- Jeff
[WINNT 4 - SP 6, XP, IE 6, Office 2000, XP Professional, 1 GIG RAM,
1 GHz Pentium 3, Matrox Millennium AGP, (3) 20 Gig HD]
Sandra Clemmson said:Thank you for reply. But I would like to try anyway. I mailed the computer
to my son in the Navy (it was insured). Fortunately, I kept a copy of all
the info in the computer after registering it. So I do have the MAC
address. Do you any ideas on how I could track a MAC addresses or a
department in Microsoft I could query about the registered copy of XP?
likelyJeff said:Not sure, but if your computer was stolen the hard drive will mostbe
wiped clean by the thief erasing the XP software.
Intel had what's called a Intel PSN (processor serial number). This
essentially allowed someone to theoretically track the habits of a user to
that particular computer. This PSN was turned off due to privacy issues. You
probably could track the MAC address on your Ethernet card, but who's to say
the Ethernet card is going to stay in the computer in the hands of the
theif.
--
HTH
- Jeff
[WINNT 4 - SP 6, XP, IE 6, Office 2000, XP Professional, 1 GIG RAM,
1 GHz Pentium 3, Matrox Millennium AGP, (3) 20 Gig HD]
Sandra Clemmson said:Is there a contact at Microsoft that will let you trace a registered XP
computer that was stolen?
S
Sandra Clemmson
Thanks everyone for your help. Just to set the record straight, I did not
mean the computer was stolen as in lifted from home or person, but I mailed
it my son overseas and he never received it. He received all other packages
his father and I mailed; this is the only one he didn't received. We should
get out monies back, I was just curious to see if Microsoft requires the
software to be registered then there should be a database - if I were a
betting person, I'd bet they track usage of these computers.
Again, thanks to all for your input.
mean the computer was stolen as in lifted from home or person, but I mailed
it my son overseas and he never received it. He received all other packages
his father and I mailed; this is the only one he didn't received. We should
get out monies back, I was just curious to see if Microsoft requires the
software to be registered then there should be a database - if I were a
betting person, I'd bet they track usage of these computers.
Again, thanks to all for your input.
S
Scott
Microsoft doesn't track specific usage of specific PCs but instead logs
problems reported by users. With the use of cable modems, DSL and other
media for internet usage IPs can get muddled. Couple that with the fact
that the thief will probably have wiped the drive before using the PC would
mean that there will be no way to find it.
In the future if you want to ship something like that of value the best
thing to do is either ship is UPS, FedEX or pay a little extra to have it
tracked by the USPS. That way they'll know exactly where the shipment is at
all times.
Sorry about your loss.
problems reported by users. With the use of cable modems, DSL and other
media for internet usage IPs can get muddled. Couple that with the fact
that the thief will probably have wiped the drive before using the PC would
mean that there will be no way to find it.
In the future if you want to ship something like that of value the best
thing to do is either ship is UPS, FedEX or pay a little extra to have it
tracked by the USPS. That way they'll know exactly where the shipment is at
all times.
Sorry about your loss.
R
rifleman
Could you please quote at least some of the post you are replying to?Microsoft doesn't track specific usage of specific PCs but instead logs
problems reported by users. With the use of cable modems, DSL and other
media for internet usage IPs can get muddled. Couple that with the fact
that the thief will probably have wiped the drive before using the PC would
mean that there will be no way to find it.
In the future if you want to ship something like that of value the best
thing to do is either ship is UPS, FedEX or pay a little extra to have it
tracked by the USPS. That way they'll know exactly where the shipment is at
all times.
Sorry about your loss.
Thank you.
H
Harry Ohrn
Sandra Clemmson said:Thanks everyone for your help. Just to set the record straight, I did not
mean the computer was stolen as in lifted from home or person, but I mailed
it my son overseas and he never received it. He received all other packages
his father and I mailed; this is the only one he didn't received. We should
get out monies back, I was just curious to see if Microsoft requires the
software to be registered then there should be a database - if I were a
betting person, I'd bet they track usage of these computers.
Again, thanks to all for your input.
It would be logistically almost impossible and certainly highly impractical
for Microsoft to track every computer that is using one of their operating
systems in such a way that they knew where each system was at all times.