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computer ID VISTA

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by jgates88

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I am having problems finding the computer id in vista home premium. A friend needed it and everywhere i search for it online shows for something else. just for the computer itself and no other programs.
Thanks!

29 replies

by oh smeg

But if it is the IP Address that changes depending on how you connect to the Internet. It will be allocated by your ISP when you log on.

If you mean the Vista Product Key this is on a sticker on the outside of the Case called Certificate of Authenticity or [b]COA[/b] and is a 25 Digit Alpha Numeric String of 5 groups of 5 characters.

Col

by jgates88

He is using a key generator thing. and he wanted to know where to find the "computer ID" He looked in where computer name and that is at no use. hope this helps you to understand the question more throughly. Sorry about the initial post I reread it myself and was a little confused by it, I can see where your coming from.
Thanks again

by older mycroft

Even so, I'm still no wiser as to what he is looking for.

I'm afraid you've still got me stumped.

Hope your mate has good antivirus protection - he'll need it. ;)

by w2ktechman

so he wants to replace the SID (as from an imaged system without sysprep), or he wants to replace the product key? Or is this for pirated SW on Vista?

You really must be much more specific, cause I think we are all at a loss

by rob miners

Press the WinKey + Pause/Break and click the Advanced System settings, click the Computer Name tab and you will see it. Click Change if you want to rename it.

Keep us informed as to your progress if you require further assistance.

If you think that any of the posts that have been made by all TR Members, have solved or contributed to solving the problem, please Mark them as Helpful so that others may benefit from the outcome. ;) :D

by jgates88

I know its not the name or ip or anything like that. Im pretty sure its going to be a unique number, probably hexadecimal in format, but Im not sure. I have been doing research for it and it almost seems like it is just so that the software is licensed for that particular computer. I am found out in places that its not the computer name MAC or ip address. But still no luck in finding where it is located.
Thanks for the suggestions so far.

by rob miners

like Siw.exe.

http://www.gtopala.com/

Keep us informed as to your progress if you require further assistance.

If you think that any of the posts that have been made by all TR Members, have solved or contributed to solving the problem, please Mark them as Helpful so that others may benefit from the outcome. ;) :D

by thumbsup2

Some software that you download will generate a unique 'ID' for that particular download. When it gets installed on that computer, you go back and buy a license from them for that particular installation of the software, providing the unique computer ID, which equates to the download ID. The license generated for you will only work when used in combination with that particular installation which matches the computer ID. If, for any reason, you have to install on a different computer (like you bought a new one), you have to go through the process all over again. Most times, you don't have to actually pay for another license, but they will require you go through the process so they can generate a new license for you.

Is that what your friend is talking about?

by older mycroft

Your friend's email account.

Whichever company created the system-specific ID, would have had to email it to your friend so that it could be added to the program registration.

I've got a whole raft of serial numbers and stuff, from the last 5 years, all archived in a folder of my email account.

Maybe your friend has too, but didn't tell you. ;)

by jgates88

uh, no. That would be that thing called a product key. And that isn computer specific, I have never went into Bestbuy and asked if they had a certain key just for my computer.

by jgates88

From what I have gathered from him is that its not a product ID. From some research Ive been doing its suppose to be somewhere on the computer itself. No two computers will have the same Computer ID, its not the name he tried that, its not the MAC. The actual computer Id of his machine is what we are looking for. The license for the software will like you said have come with it or there is a website or a number to call to get it. But no good for whatever hes trying to use without the Compouter ID.

Thanks, youve been of the utmost help and have made the best sense of what Im asking.
Is there something besides a helpful reply I can gicve this for you?
Let me know on the next thread if so.
thanks again, hoipe your next response has what were after.

by thumbsup2

... I have to start the program, then click the registration button which then opens another window and reveals the unique computer ID 'code' assigned by the software itself, as well as that particular download's own unique serial number. I have to feed both unique numbers to the software creators and they generate a license.

Perhaps what your friend is looking for is in the program itself. Has he called or written to the makers of the software to find out what, exactly, the program is asking for when it calls for a 'computer ID'? Does the program have a web site? Is there a FAQ area where it might have Q&A for registration problems?

.

by thumbsup2

... some of these software creators use various terms to describe these things. Usually, a product key is on the packaging for a product. However, I've seen some downloaded software bury what I would call a serial number in their programming, but they call it a product key.

I think they just like to keep us confuzzled! :(

by older mycroft

Serial number came with the packaging, installer generated another squirt of obscure numbers, I logged onto the Quark site, fed in BOTH sets of numbers then got a third numerical sequence by email.

Mind you, after forking out almost ?700 for the software, I wasn't really surprised - more impressed! :D

[i]I'm still not sure that's what our OP is looking for though?[/i]

by older mycroft

Like maybe what program these numbers are for?

Or if you wish to remain secretive (which is ok) perhaps you could tell us what category this software falls into?

I've got a nagging feeling that we are talking at crossed purposes here and that the answer could be readily at hand if we just could understand what you are looking for. ;)

by jgates88

Im sending him am email with some of the results to see if any of them is what hes looking for.
Thanks for trying, if its not it.

by rob miners

looked on the PC case. Propriotory PC's normally have serial numbers on the case somewhere. You are being very vague with what you are expecting us to work with. What is the make and model of the PC.

< afterthought >

What is this going to be used for when you do find it. Why is it needed.

by thumbsup2

... we could be dealing with some sort of Parental Controls. :(

by rob miners

of getting a guide dog as the crystal ball doesn't seem to be working. :p

by older mycroft

You DID say that Velcro was looking to see what was bothering me, after all.

However, I doubt if even my cat could be bothered with the 'childishness' of this particular situation. ;)

by rob miners

would have any interest in this at all. Too smart for that. ;)

by jgates88

Yeah, Ive thrown in the towel on this one to/ I emailed him with some of the stuff from here, tried getting the info from him. So Im saying now it wasnt worth any of our time to try and resolve it. I do want to thank everyone for helping though.

by older mycroft

WHAT have YOU been doing all your [i]research[/i] on then?

You don't even know what your friend is looking for, yet you're asking us to find it for you?

Maybe it's time to go straight to the source. Or maybe just for you to come clean. ;)

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