Trouble Changing MAC Address

[josef001]

Hello guys! When I try to change my MAC address my internet crashes and I get "Limited or no connectivity". I was wondering if anyone could explain why? Or explain a way that I could change my MAC address without losing connection to the internet!

Thanks guys any idea is appreciated!

[freddyhard]

the MAC address is burnt into the NIC and cannot be changed. every NIC has a unique MAC address world wide. the IP address can be changed, but what was it before you changed it? if you are on a domain and it is obtained automatically (DHCP) and you specify one (static address) then you'll need to enter in the DNS IP address and the default gateway as well. these are probably the servers IP address.

goto start>run and type cmd and enter. then at the command prompt type
ipconfig /all
there it will give you your current details. so keep the same DNS and default gateway if you are going to enter a new IP address.

post back if this is not what you are trying to do

[Volt-Schwibe]

Originally Posted by freddyhard

the MAC address is burnt into the NIC and cannot be changed.

i hate to say this, but that simply isn't true, and i myself have told many many people that same thing in the past.

then i find that it is possible, not all cards support it, but most do.

In XP you can use the regedit to edit the registry from a GUI or the reg command to edit it from the console, I’ll be using regedit. Information on all your NICs can be found the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002bE10318}\ . Under this key you will find a bunch of sub keys labeled as 0000, 00001, 0002 and so forth. We can assume any MAC address we want by finding the key that controls the NIC we want to change, putting in a string value called “NetworkAddress” and setting it to the MAC address we want to use formatted as a twelve digit hex number (example: 000000000001). To find out which key is which we can search through them for the value “DriverDesc” until we find the one that matches the NIC we wish to alter. After you set “NetworkAddress” to the address you want just restart the NIC by disabling it then enabling it (or in the case of PCMCIA cards, just eject and reinsert). You can confirm the MAC address change by using the “getmac” or “ipconfig /all” commands.

- Original link: http://addict3d.org/index.php?page=v...ecurity&ID=844

also, some software to make it even easier: (not free, demo is just to see if your card allows it.)
http://www.klcconsulting.net/smac/#Evaluation


can also see the google search i pulled off showing page after page with working instructions about how. http://www.google.com/search?q=clone...&start=10&sa=N (keep in mind, half those links are discussing routers, the other half NIC's)

in fact, in linux, this is done with a two lines of text typed into the console:

ifconfig eth0 down hw ether 00:00:00:00:00:01

ifconfig eth0 up

both my wireless cards allow it too. one time not that long ago, just to show someone it was possible, i changed my mac address to match the one on their laptop's wireless, and connected to their wireless router just to show them that limiting the router to a single connectable mac address is not as secure as WEP.

this here is also said to work, it's from the same source as that top one:

This is depending on the type of Network Interface Card (NIC) you have. If you have a card that doesn’t support Clone MAC address, then you have to go to second method.

a) Go to Start->Settings->Control Panel and double click on Network and Dial-up Connections.

b) Right click on the NIC you want to change the MAC address and click on properties.

c) Under "General" tab, click on the "Configure" button

d) Click on "Advanced" tab

e) Under "Property section", you should see an item called "Network Address" or "Locally Administered Address", click on it.

f) On the right side, under "Value", type in the New MAC address you want to assign to your NIC. Usually this value is entered without the "-" between the MAC address numbers.

g) Goto command prompt and type in "ipconfig /all" or "net config rdr" to verify the changes. If the changes are not materialized, then use the second method.

h) If successful, reboot your system.

[josef001]

so am I to assume then that my card does not support it? because i can change my MAC address but when I do i lose connection to the internet (my IP changes to 0.0.0.0). I wanted to know if it is my network card or if it is my ISP that isn't letting me change my MAC address and keep the same IP address!

[Volt-Schwibe]

oh sheesh, i'm sorry, i didn't realize that's what you were asking.


first off, why are you attempting to change it?

second, what exactly are you plugged into, a cable/dsl modem, or a router?

i'm here if you answer right away...

[josef001]

i am connected to cable through a router, but i tried connecting directly to the cable modem. i want to change my MAC address because it was part of the instructions for a game I downloaded!

[Volt-Schwibe]

ok.

i am not going to be able to help with this.

not unless you can explain which game, and they can explain a valid reason.

[freddyhard]

hi volt-schwibe. i just changed the MAC address by using the configure>advanced>network address.. you know yourself. but are you sure this is actually changing the MAC address or windows taking control of what the network sees as the MAC address?

the original address is still there only windows is showing the one specified by the user. in which case how useful is this?

[Volt-Schwibe]

my router says it changed.

and, the time i did it with a wireless, that router saw it change too.

Originally Posted by freddyhard

but are you sure this is actually changing the MAC address or windows taking control of what the network sees as the MAC address?

no, that's exactly what it's doing. the mac address in the card is still there, you can delete the reg key, and you will have your old mac address back.

this literally just makes the network see it as another network card.

as far as how useful....

it's not, unless you are looking to conduct illegal activities, which is what i suspect is up with this thread.

however, i already went and gave the info anyhow, so the damage has been done.

the only reason to clone a network card's mac address, is to lie to two types of devices.

1. routers. this has nothing to do with gaming like this user has mentioned.
2. dsl/cable modems. again, this has nothing to do with gaming.

the only exception to that, is x-box, which you can not legally download games for...

i'd like to point out, that some game support sites suggest having your router clone your pc's NIC, so that the cable company doesn't see a router. that, however, is not what's being asked either.

so still, i'd like to know, what game, and why in the world does it ask this.

as far as why it causes a disconnect, i think that's common sense.