Unique Identifier for a computer.

13 Feb 2007 2:44 PM

UJ

I need to come up with a way to uniquely identify computers that can't be
hacked easily. Something like the system id or info from the CPU that is
then sent over the internet to a central database.

What we are trying to do is have a unique identifier that is machine based
that can't be changed.

Anybody have any thoughts?

TIA - Jeff.

13 Feb 2007 3:17 PM

Michael Nemtsev

Hello UJ,

Use the WMI to extract the Mother board ID, because the main MS policy to
bind software to that ID (not MAC or smth else)

Start from there http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394587.aspx

U> I need to come up with a way to uniquely identify computers that
U> can't be hacked easily. Something like the system id or info from the
U> CPU that is then sent over the internet to a central database.
U>
U> What we are trying to do is have a unique identifier that is machine
U> based that can't be changed.

---
WBR, Michael Nemtsev [C# MVP].
My blog: http://spaces.live.com/laflour
Team blog: http://devkids.blogspot.com/

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we
miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it" (c) Michelangelo

13 Feb 2007 6:12 PM

UJ

Does anybody have this code in either C# or VB.Net ? I'm not sure how to do
VBScript.

Thanks.

J.

Show quote

"Michael Nemtsev" <nemt***@msn.com> wrote in message
news:a279a63a3de8348c91db25697dfd4@msnews.microsoft.com...
> Hello UJ,
>
> Use the WMI to extract the Mother board ID, because the main MS policy to
> bind software to that ID (not MAC or smth else)
>
> Start from there http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394587.aspx
>
>
> U> I need to come up with a way to uniquely identify computers that
> U> can't be hacked easily. Something like the system id or info from the
> U> CPU that is then sent over the internet to a central database.
> U> U> What we are trying to do is have a unique identifier that is machine
> U> based that can't be changed.
>
>
> ---
> WBR, Michael Nemtsev [C# MVP]. My blog: http://spaces.live.com/laflour
> Team blog: http://devkids.blogspot.com/
>
> "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we
> miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it" (c) Michelangelo
>
>

15 Feb 2007 3:02 PM

UJ

Thanks but I've the code on 10 different machines and only gotten two
distinct values. It looks like that ID is not a serial number for the CPU
but instead is a process type id. I need the serial # of the CPU.

J.

Show quote

"Michael Nemtsev" <nemt***@msn.com> wrote in message
news:a279a63a3de8348c91db25697dfd4@msnews.microsoft.com...
> Hello UJ,
>
> Use the WMI to extract the Mother board ID, because the main MS policy to
> bind software to that ID (not MAC or smth else)
>
> Start from there http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394587.aspx
>
>
> U> I need to come up with a way to uniquely identify computers that
> U> can't be hacked easily. Something like the system id or info from the
> U> CPU that is then sent over the internet to a central database.
> U> U> What we are trying to do is have a unique identifier that is machine
> U> based that can't be changed.
>
>
> ---
> WBR, Michael Nemtsev [C# MVP]. My blog: http://spaces.live.com/laflour
> Team blog: http://devkids.blogspot.com/
>
> "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we
> miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it" (c) Michelangelo
>
>

15 Feb 2007 5:19 PM

Goran Sliskovic

"UJ" <f***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:uBCnNJRUHHA.3316@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Thanks but I've the code on 10 different machines and only gotten two
> distinct values. It looks like that ID is not a serial number for the CPU
> but instead is a process type id. I need the serial # of the CPU.
>

CPU serial number is not implemented any more, because of security concerns:
http://www.cdt.org/privacy/issues/pentium3/

I use computer SID usually. However, SID is changable, but if somebody wants
to crack, he will crack :)

Regards,
Goran

15 Feb 2007 7:41 PM

UJ

I originally was looking for code to use the SID but couldn't figure out how
to get it.

Could you please post code to get the SID?

If somebody hacks this stuff, then so be it. I just need a unique ID that
the casual user can't change easily (like computer name).

TIA - Jeff.

Show quote

"Goran Sliskovic" <gslis***@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:%239LHqVSUHHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>
> "UJ" <f***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:uBCnNJRUHHA.3316@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Thanks but I've the code on 10 different machines and only gotten two
>> distinct values. It looks like that ID is not a serial number for the CPU
>> but instead is a process type id. I need the serial # of the CPU.
>>
>
> CPU serial number is not implemented any more, because of security
> concerns:
> http://www.cdt.org/privacy/issues/pentium3/
>
> I use computer SID usually. However, SID is changable, but if somebody
> wants
> to crack, he will crack :)
>
> Regards,
> Goran
>
>
>
>

15 Feb 2007 7:35 PM

Michael Nemtsev

Hello UJ,

Could you show the code that u use?
Smth like this http://www.freevbcode.com/ShowCode.asp?ID=2664? SerialNumber
property?

U> Than
ks but I've the code on 10 different machines and only gotten two
U> distinct values. It looks like that ID is not a serial number for the
U> CPU but instead is a process type id. I need the serial # of the CPU.
U>

>> Use the WMI to extract the Mother board ID, because the main MS
>> policy to bind software to that ID (not MAC or smth else)
>>
>> Start from there
>> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394587.aspx
>>

---
WBR, Michael Nemtsev [C# MVP].
My blog: http://spaces.live.com/laflour
Team blog: http://devkids.blogspot.com/

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we
miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it" (c) Michelangelo

15 Feb 2007 7:40 PM

UJ

The code I'm using is:

public string GetCPUID()
{
   string lsCPUID = "";
   try
   {
    ManagementObjectCollection moReturn = null;
    ManagementObjectSearcher moSearch = new ManagementObjectSearcher();

    moSearch = new ManagementObjectSearcher("Select * from
Win32_Processor");
    moReturn = moSearch.Get();
    foreach ( ManagementObject mo in moReturn )
    {
     lsCPUID = mo["ProcessorID"].ToString();
    }
   }
   catch
   {
   }

   return lsCPUID;
}

and it's doesn't return a unique ID.

Show quote

"Michael Nemtsev" <nemt***@msn.com> wrote in message
news:a279a63a3df4488c91f68cbecbd84@msnews.microsoft.com...
> Hello UJ,
>
> Could you show the code that u use?
> Smth like this http://www.freevbcode.com/ShowCode.asp?ID=2664?
> SerialNumber property?
>
> U> Than
> ks but I've the code on 10 different machines and only gotten two
> U> distinct values. It looks like that ID is not a serial number for the
> U> CPU but instead is a process type id. I need the serial # of the CPU.
> U>
>>> Use the WMI to extract the Mother board ID, because the main MS
>>> policy to bind software to that ID (not MAC or smth else)
>>>
>>> Start from there
>>> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394587.aspx
>>>
>
> ---
> WBR, Michael Nemtsev [C# MVP]. My blog: http://spaces.live.com/laflour
> Team blog: http://devkids.blogspot.com/
>
> "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we
> miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it" (c) Michelangelo
>
>

15 Feb 2007 7:55 PM

Michael Nemtsev

Hello UJ,

Use "select SerialNumber from Win32_BaseBoard". It should give u unique value

U> The code I'm using is:
U> moSearch = new ManagementObjectSearcher("Select * from
U> Win32_Processor");
U> and it's doesn't return a unique ID.

---
WBR, Michael Nemtsev [C# MVP].
My blog: http://spaces.live.com/laflour
Team blog: http://devkids.blogspot.com/

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we
miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it" (c) Michelangelo