Machine GUID fixed like MAC address?

[battler.]

Hi all,

Does anyone know if th Windows Machine GUID is fixed in memory.  Is it fixed like the MAC address is?  Is it reliable?

It can be found in the registry under LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography.  Is this the spot for all operating systems?

Would it be possible to use the GUID instead of the MAC address for software activation purposes?

Thanks,

Battler.

[THN]

Hi Battler,

Check if this helps you:  http://www.itnewsgroups.net/group/microsoft.public.windows.server.general/topic13923.aspx

and this: http://www.derkeiler.com/Newsgroups/microsoft.public.security/2002-11/6898.html

Hope it helps answering some of your questions.

[battler.]

Not really.  Thanks anyway.

Anyone else?

[Mark_SAI]

Hello,

This thread suggests that one computer can have a random GUID which is based on its MAC address but has many other random chars in, so it is not going to be the same everytime you generate a GUID on the same machine.

[battler.]

I dont want to generate a GUID.  I want to use the GUID at that registry location to uniquely identify a PC.  I don't want it to change.

Thanks.

[Davidek]

Hi battler

The Machine GUID is fixed in the registry, but is changable with the right privileges. Not that you generally would want to change it, especially if I understand your intended use correctly. Changing it would just hurt the person changing it since the software would no longer work and if you hash it to generate your activation code it would be nearly impossible to "guess" for someone else.

As to if the MachineGUID can be found in the same please in the registry for all versions of Windows I can only say that it is in the same place in XP, Vista and Server 2003.

Best Regards

David

NISW

[smercurio_fc]

For anyone else who desires to answer questions posted by battler, you should read this thread, especially this response.