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Thread ID: 88017 2008-03-12 06:43:00 Motherboards and MAC addresses 2mecky (13504) Press F1
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648785 2008-03-12 06:43:00 Just a query for the uninitiated, I've just had to have a motherboard replaced on my Toshiba Satellite M40X laptop. A friend who knows a little more than me about it says if the motherboard has in fact been replaced then I should have a new MAC address and not the same one I had. Can anyone assist here. Just trying to make sure the job I was charged for has in fact been done!@# 2mecky (13504)
648786 2008-03-12 06:47:00 Open a command prompt and type ipconfig /all

The mac address, is the physical address of the LAN

It'll look like xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx

Or if the LAN is working double click on the LAN icon in the taskbar / support / details. Physical address
Speedy Gonzales (78)
648787 2008-03-13 02:21:00 Thanks for that but what I'm trying to establish is whether or not in replacing the motherboard should I have a NEW MAC address. The current situation is the repairer says they have replaced the motherboard, however the MAC address is the same as the one I had before the replacement which leads me to believe the motherboard may not have been replaced (as invoiced for) and has only been repaired. I'm trying to arm myself with correct information before going back to them..Cheers 2mecky (13504)
648788 2008-03-13 02:34:00 I would say yup it should have a new MAC address.

Since any system shouldnt have the same MAC address (even if the mobo was replaced)

Thats if the NIC is onboard

I would send Toshiba an email to verify. Laptop mobos maybe different from desktops.
Speedy Gonzales (78)
648789 2008-03-13 03:44:00 If the NIC is different than the previous one, you will have a new MAC address, MAC addresses are hardwired into the NIC and are never the same as any others. The_End_Of_Reality (334)
648790 2008-03-13 04:02:00 The NIC should have a different MAC address, although the Wireless will probably have the same MAC address as it will most likely be a small add-in card that can simply be swapped between motherboards. stormdragon (6013)
648791 2008-03-13 05:30:00 Yes they could have replaced the mother board and given the unit the same MAC address as most embedded network solutions are more "firmware" based then "hardware" based. ughnz (8297)
648792 2008-03-13 07:09:00 Unless you know the original MAC address, you will be none the wiser. decibel (11645)
648793 2008-03-13 08:01:00 Unless you know the original MAC address, you will be none the wiser. Exactly... Something that disturbs me, I know my old work PCs MAC address off the top of my head (I have now been supplied with a new work PC :D) :o :horrified The_End_Of_Reality (334)
648794 2008-03-13 08:30:00 Thanks for that but what I'm trying to establish is whether or not in replacing the motherboard should I have a NEW MAC address. The current situation is the repairer says they have replaced the motherboard, however the MAC address is the same as the one I had before the replacement which leads me to believe the motherboard may not have been replaced (as invoiced for) and has only been repaired. I'm trying to arm myself with correct information before going back to them..Cheers

most of the time the MAC is burned into a chip in the network card but in some newer systems the MAC is done in firmware to make such things as system board swaps less painfull.

at our work we have all systems in our DMZ locked down by MAC, if we swap our a server and the MAC changes then it would suck to have to change 300 firewall rules, in this case we just flash in the old MAC to the new system board.
robsonde (120)
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