Mac Address

Cris · External Since: Nov 15, 2006 Posts: 3

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. · External Since: Jun 16, 2006 Posts: 90

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

"Cris" <Cris.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0CBE23C6-7720-4BE5-9B09-4C5062D0B238@microsoft.com...
> 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

Joe Moore · External Since: Oct 18, 2006 Posts: 4

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

Joe Moore

"Cris" <Cris DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0CBE23C6-7720-4BE5-9B09-4C5062D0B238@microsoft.com...
> 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

Richard G. Harper · External Since: Sep 09, 2006 Posts: 1406

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] rgharper.RemoveThis@gmail.com
* 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" <Cris.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0CBE23C6-7720-4BE5-9B09-4C5062D0B238@microsoft.com...
> 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

Barry Watzman · External Since: Jul 17, 2006 Posts: 197

Not all network cards support changing the MAC address. When they do,
it's usually with a utility that comes on the driver disc that ships
with the card.

Cris wrote:
> 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

Barry Watzman · External Since: Jul 17, 2006 Posts: 197

That's not always true. Some high-end cards (many 3Com cards) have the
MAC address in flash memory instead of hard ROM and have a utility that
does allow changing it.

Joe Moore wrote:
> The MAC address is HARD-CODED by the manufacturer of the NIC. There is
> NO way to change it.
>
> Joe Moore

Mark Gillespie · External Since: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 208

On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:09:01 -0000, Cris <Cris DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

> 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...

--
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

Cris · External Since: Nov 15, 2006 Posts: 12

> 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 Smile

C.

Dave B. · External Since: Jun 16, 2006 Posts: 90

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?

"Cris" <Cris RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0E33B433-CE7E-40C5-83CD-0E03A52E7745@microsoft.com...
>
>
>> 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 Smile

>
>
> C.

R. McCarty · External Since: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 260

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.

"Cris" <Cris RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0E33B433-CE7E-40C5-83CD-0E03A52E7745@microsoft.com...
>
>
>> 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 Smile

>
>
> C.

Richard Urban · External Since: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 2958

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!

"Cris" <Cris.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0E33B433-CE7E-40C5-83CD-0E03A52E7745@microsoft.com...
>
>
>> 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 Smile

>
>
> C.

Saucy · External Since: Nov 10, 2006 Posts: 26

This message is not archived

Saucy · External Since: Nov 10, 2006 Posts: 26

This message is not archived

Pavel A. · External Since: Jun 13, 2006 Posts: 34

Use "*NetworkAddress" instead of "NetworkAddress"
(note the star ) - will it help?

--PA

"Cris" wrote:
> 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

Cris · External Since: Nov 15, 2006 Posts: 12

> 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 .... Smile

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.

Dave B. · External Since: Jun 16, 2006 Posts: 90

Look at the solution Alex provided

"Cris" <Cris.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0D788906-707E-44CA-8C8F-9C7B33B05616@microsoft.com...
>
>> 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 .... Smile

> 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 · External Since: Oct 10, 2006 Posts: 355

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

"Cris" <Cris.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0D788906-707E-44CA-8C8F-9C7B33B05616@microsoft.com...
|
| > 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 .... Smile

Cris · External Since: Nov 15, 2006 Posts: 12

> 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.

Dika · External Since: Nov 15, 2006 Posts: 5

Hi Chris,

What version of Vista are you using?

"Cris" wrote:

>
> > 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.
>
>

Cris · External Since: Nov 15, 2006 Posts: 12

> 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.