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Computer ID String?

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3 replies

by duke_xray

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I've been looking in my system configuration, registry and even on-line support; but nowhere can I find my computer ID string (XXXXXXX-XX). Can anyone out there help me?

3 replies

by djent

If you are reffering to the system ID (SID) goto sysinternals.com, look for "sidnew V3.02". They have some very nice tech tools.

by guruofdos

The ID string is displayed at the bottom of the screen as the BIOS boots. For most computers, as the BIOS boots, press the Pause/Break key as the bios string appears on the screen and this will freeze the screen. Note down the ID string. Pressing any other key will allow booting to continue. Having made a note of the BIOS ID String....mosey on over to www.wimsbios.com to identify your board manufacturer and bios revision from the data in this string.

:-)

by lordinfidel

Both posters are correct.

But I beleive some clarification is need.

Every computer has 2 things; A SID and a BIOS String.

The SID that poster#1 is referring to is an Security Identifier (or SID). A SID is unique to each machine OS. No twosids are the same. This is how computers at the OS level can maintain their uniuqness(msp?). Even if 2 machines have the same name, their SID will be different.

Side note (every user and group account also has a SID) Think of a SID as an public IP address. A single public IP address can be assigned to only 1 machine.

A Bios String that poster #2 refers to is the unique identifier for your mother board.

It is comprised of differernt sections. Basically it boils down to the the Chipset mfr, Bios type and Board mfr. You can have a Intel chipset with an award bios made by Tyan and that BIOS string will be unique. It will be different then a IntelChipset, with an award Bios made by Intel.

I hope this clears any confusion you may have had and you can make a clear decision as to which one you need.

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