Cannot change MAC address in windows 7 - driver has option, doesnt work, neither does regedit, MS this is a BUG, fix it!
- All over the net people who need to change their physical MAC address are being denied access to the internet by this BUG.
I need to change my MAC to connect to my AP, its as simple as that.
Had to go back to XP to get access to the net....sad and inexcusable
Fix it and advertise the fix please
Unbelievable
All Replies
- What are you talking about? You cannot change your MAC address!!!
- Not sure what your problem is, but read this post http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itpronetworking/thread/697bf48c-a226-4315-8875-2bbeddf16db2
- Can't actually change the physical address on the card itself, but you can spoof any mac address, see link above. It's been done for years.
Not sure what your problem is, but read this post http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itpronetworking/thread/697bf48c-a226-4315-8875-2bbeddf16db2
Thanks. but ive already read that thread
And id done everything suggested in there BEFORE posting :)
Im using a Netgear wg311t (Atheros based) and you can change the MAC via any tool or the reg key and windows 7 just ignores it completely
You CANNOT get Win7 to accept the spoofed MAC address...trust me
Im not a 16 yo wannabe know it all
I have about *counting* nearly 30 years of PC experience...
If you read the last post of that thread you refer to you will notice that the guy experiences the ability to change the MAC address in X64 Win7 with his wireless adapter, but not in X86 win 7
This is whats called a BUG, i think i have already pointed out its a BUG a few times already
Cant we just move to acceptance phase, admit that its a BUG and actually fix it
Or are we going to play Microsoft blames the end user, sends them round the support merry go round for a year, and then slip in a bugfix stealthily via windows update...because, you know, its not like thats ever happened.
I think that given the number of posts across the internet about wireless issues with Win 7, it would be foolish to keep ignoring me and the fact that theres problems :)Can't actually change the physical address on the card itself, but you can spoof any mac address, see link above. It's been done for years.
I know it can be done, ive been doing it on XP for eons (in fact im doing it right now to access the net and write this) and even that godawful Vista
So i do know what im doing, and i am using the bog standard driver/advanced/network address option to do it
Im telling you, again, that Win 7 ignores it completely :)
Hi,
Please try the following steps.
1. Click Start menu and type "devmgmt.msc" (without quotation marks) in the open box and click OK.
2. Expand "Network adapters" and right click the NIC which you would like to change MAC address, and then click "Properties".
3. Switch to "Advanced" tab and click "Network address" in "Property".
4. Select "Value" option and type the new MAC address you would like to use, such as 123456789000
5. Click OK and exist.
Then, please run relevant command to view MAC address, we can see the address is already changed.
1. Click Start menu and type "CMD" (without quotation marks) in the open box. Right click it and click "Run as administrator".
2. Type the following command:
Ipconfig /all
Then, we can see the new MAC address (Physical Address).
Thanks,
Novak
Sorry mate, like ive already pointed out, i know what im doing, and i have done all that in fact its exactly what i do in XP to be here with you now :)Hi,
Please try the following steps.
1. Click Start menu and type "devmgmt.msc" (without quotation marks) in the open box and click OK.
2. Expand "Network adapters" and right click the NIC which you would like to change MAC address, and then click "Properties".
3. Switch to "Advanced" tab and click "Network address" in "Property".
4. Select "Value" option and type the new MAC address you would like to use, such as 123456789000
5. Click OK and exist.
Then, please run relevant command to view MAC address, we can see the address is already changed.
1. Click Start menu and type "CMD" (without quotation marks) in the open box. Right click it and click "Run as administrator".
2. Type the following command:
Ipconfig /all
Then, we can see the new MAC address (Physical Address).
Thanks,
Novak
Can i say Windows 7 has a BUG any more clearly??
Im actually getting tired of saying it.
Rule 1: Dont blame an end user with nearly 30 years of experience
Rule 2: Accept that you have a BUG, its your problem Microsoft
Rule 3: Fix the BUGWhich version of Windows 7 was installed on the machine, RTM, RC or Beta? How did you get it, via downloaded from Internet or other location?
Actually, I have tested on several machine and it worked. Can you tell me which step failed? Did you see "Network address" option in Network adapter properties? If so, please type the new address and apply OK. Then can you see the new physical address via "IPCONFIG /ALL".
Please let me more. If possible, please upload the picture to Skydrive (www.skydrive.live.com ) and share the link to me.
Thanks,
Novak
Im using Windows 7 downloaded from TechNetWhich version of Windows 7 was installed on the machine, RTM, RC or Beta? How did you get it, via downloaded from Internet or other location?
Actually, I have tested on several machine and it worked. Can you tell me which step failed? Did you see "Network address" option in Network adapter properties? If so, please type the new address and apply OK. Then can you see the new physical address via "IPCONFIG /ALL".
Please let me more. If possible, please upload the picture to Skydrive (www.skydrive.live.com ) and share the link to me.
Thanks,
Novak
Im using the X86 version
And i have already said in previous posts that i tried the usual Network Address option in the adapters properties, why do people keep repeating things which i have already tried, again, i am not a newbie here...
Im using that same Network Address option in the adapters properties right now in XP, just as i was last time i posted....
Ive tried several atheros drivers, including the latest ones fomr the windows update catalogue , last ones are dated 5-10-2009 (d-m-yyyy im in OZ) and include, quite funnily, the debug files ....
Its a no go, you can put the mac address in and ipconfig /all all you like, it isnt going to change the fact that it DOESNT WORK
Oh i guess youre busy right now selling a product with a defect in it to bother with actually fixing it so i can use it
Im using Windows 7 downloaded from TechNetWhich version of Windows 7 was installed on the machine, RTM, RC or Beta? How did you get it, via downloaded from Internet or other location?
Actually, I have tested on several machine and it worked. Can you tell me which step failed? Did you see "Network address" option in Network adapter properties? If so, please type the new address and apply OK. Then can you see the new physical address via "IPCONFIG /ALL".
Please let me more. If possible, please upload the picture to Skydrive (www.skydrive.live.com ) and share the link to me.
Thanks,
Novak
Im using the X86 version
And i have already said in previous posts that i tried the usual Network Address option in the adapters properties, why do people keep repeating things which i have already tried, again, i am not a newbie here...
Im using that same Network Address option in the adapters properties right now in XP, just as i was last time i posted....
Ive tried several atheros drivers, including the latest ones fomr the windows update catalogue , last ones are dated 5-10-2009 (d-m-yyyy im in OZ) and include, quite funnily, the debug files ....
Its a no go, you can put the mac address in and ipconfig /all all you like, it isnt going to change the fact that it DOESNT WORK
Ill just wait until you finish counting the money, shall I?
- Ok guys,
here's my question,i have spoofed my own "mac" address by adding the NetworkAddress in the Class tree,however i use a HSPA modem and i also have another parameter named DefaultGatewayMac in the networklists under the Hkey_local_machine\software etc...
my question is i just used the same values for DefaultGatewayMac to the NetworkAddress entry,is that a good practice or i should set different values for both and by the way, the DefaultGatewayMac is a binary value,and it was set by default to 0000000000000000 so i changed those zeros to my custom numbers/letters and then used the same size for networkaddress which is 16 numbers,is that ok?
any help is greatly appreciated,
RR
BUMP
Oh i guess youre busy right now selling a product with a defect in it to bother with actually fixing it so i can use it
Im using Windows 7 downloaded from TechNetWhich version of Windows 7 was installed on the machine, RTM, RC or Beta? How did you get it, via downloaded from Internet or other location?
Actually, I have tested on several machine and it worked. Can you tell me which step failed? Did you see "Network address" option in Network adapter properties? If so, please type the new address and apply OK. Then can you see the new physical address via "IPCONFIG /ALL".
Please let me more. If possible, please upload the picture to Skydrive (www.skydrive.live.com ) and share the link to me.
Thanks,
Novak
Im using the X86 version
And i have already said in previous posts that i tried the usual Network Address option in the adapters properties, why do people keep repeating things which i have already tried, again, i am not a newbie here...
Im using that same Network Address option in the adapters properties right now in XP, just as i was last time i posted....
Ive tried several atheros drivers, including the latest ones fomr the windows update catalogue , last ones are dated 5-10-2009 (d-m-yyyy im in OZ) and include, quite funnily, the debug files ....
Its a no go, you can put the mac address in and ipconfig /all all you like, it isnt going to change the fact that it DOESNT WORK
Ill just wait until you finish counting the money, shall I?
Must be too busy counting the money still
I'd like to use my OS thanks, please fix it.....................................
p.s. the thread is now about number 6 when you search for windows 7 change mac address, apparently a LOT of people are having the same issue because theres a lot of queries about the SAME ISSUE
p.p.s. see how long you can ignore me nowHi,
Sorry for delay.
Actually, we cannot change the physical address on the card itself, we can only spoof the mac address by modifying the settings in Network Properties. Please capture a screenshot of the "Network address" option in Network adapter properties and upload it to Skydrive (www.skydrive.live.com) , and then share the link to me for research.
For more information about changing Mac address, please refer to the link below:
How to change a MAC address on Windows 7
Thanks,
Novak
Hi,
Sorry for delay.
Actually, we cannot change the physical address on the card itself, we can only spoof the mac address by modifying the settings in Network Properties. Please capture a screenshot of the "Network address" option in Network adapter properties and upload it to Skydrive (www.skydrive.live.com ) , and then share the link to me for research.
For more information about changing Mac address, please refer to the link below:
How to change a MAC address on Windows 7
Thanks,
Novak
Okay, just how many times am i going to have to repeat earlier information, are we really going to get into one of those circular support discussions here?
Seems like it
Ill summarize, for the last time
Im not going to be doing any screenshots, thats for newbies, and with nearly 30 years experience im no newbie.
Its an Atheros based chipset (5002G to be exact)
It has a network address option in the drivers properties (ive tried at least 10 drivers, including the last 3 from windows update catalog)
Any mac address in the network address box (or hand editing the registry for the adapter - same thing) results in the new mac address being totally ignored - ipconfig /all shows the original one.
I can spoof the mac under EVERY OTHER OS.....
Do i really need to quote countless posts across the internet to convince you its a Microsoft Windows 7 bug?
Please just bl00dy fix it already and stop trying to create a circular conversation where you try a war of attrition to wear people down...................people are aware of it, its gone past the point where you can blame it on end users or drivers
After testing on several Windows 7 machines, the Mac Address can be modified successfully on each of them. (Some is installed Windows 7 Ultimate, some is Windows 7 Professional and Home Premium). Since the Mac Address can be modified on some Windows 7 machines, we cannot conclude this is a bug.
This issue can occur by incompatible driver or corrupted system files. At this stage, it's highly recommended to upgrade your Motherboard driver and Network adapter driver. If there is driver for Windows 7 currently, you can install the driver for Windows Vista in compatibility mode instead.
If the issue still occurs, I suggest you do a clean installation for a test.
Thanks,
Novak- I have tried of everything. I have changed every possible driver on the card wifi but nothing. I succeed only in changing the mac address of the card of net lan.
After testing on several Windows 7 machines, the Mac Address can be modified successfully on each of them. (Some is installed Windows 7 Ultimate, some is Windows 7 Professional and Home Premium). Since the Mac Address can be modified on some Windows 7 machines, we cannot conclude this is a bug.
This issue can occur by incompatible driver or corrupted system files. At this stage, it's highly recommended to upgrade your Motherboard driver and Network adapter driver. If there is driver for Windows 7 currently, you can install the driver for Windows Vista in compatibility mode instead.
If the issue still occurs, I suggest you do a clean installation for a test.
Thanks,
Novak
If you continue to treat me like an idiot or newbie then i shall start treating you with the same degree of contempt....
I have reinstalled it more than half a dozen times, nothing changes the fact that it is a bug
Your insistence that you can change the wireless MAC on your (multiple) versions of Windows 7 does nothing to detract from the fact that you seem to be the only one on the internet that can do this (as evidenced by the post above where someone other than me (and representing a lot more) confirms its an issue, so again and for the last frickin time, its not just me, its a WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE)
Suggesting i change a motherboard driver ? (i assume you mean chipset drivers) is just a cop out.
For the record im running an actual Intel motherboard that has run every OS without incident until now. I bought intel as they are rock solid, maybe not as sexy as MB's with a ton of options, but they work 100% 24/7.
So im not some world of warcraft idiot with an overspecced mb....
And yet more proof you people dont read previous entries and are just spouting ____ as way of support is the fact ive already stated ive tried numerous drivers. Please learn to read previous posts, it will make you look professional and avoid arguments.
Perhaps you have a special version of Windows 7 that somehow magically fails to replicate what end users experience.....its so magical it doesnt relly exist and is also installed for you by unicorns.....
Treat me with contempt again at your own peril.
Perhaps we should swap positions, as it appears im far more qualified than you.
Again, fix the problem and stop laying blame with the end user, we didnt build a bug into Windows 7, you did.....
All over the net people who need to change their physical MAC address are being denied access to the internet by this BUG.
I need to change my MAC to connect to my AP, its as simple as that.
Had to go back to XP to get access to the net....sad and inexcusable
Fix it and advertise the fix please
Unbelievable
::))That's unbelievable...personally surprised haven't changed to linux...can change the physical address easier with no special requirements or additional software. That remainds me when I had for the first time a personal computer...4 years ago only and was supposed to have linux OS boot installer but somehow the retailer had it exposed with Windows preinstalled (it happens often locally), when I turn it on for the first time my physical address changed instantly with the neighbour's physical and kept switching randomly for a very good while.This issue affected even the battery of it, and not only.
No wonder why Windows doesn't mess the hardware, even keep many users-end users away of.- Edited byI.V. Friday, October 30, 2009 10:41 PMAdd
hehe butt in all you like, i have no issue with what youre saying at all :)
I have several wireless cards. I believe at least one has a h/w register for the MAC address that is r/w. It can be changed as you say, stylemessiah. I am only butting in to say, this is not spoofing . You literally are changing the MAC address with your utility if that register is being rewritten.
</ Butting out >
Frankly i was enjoying someone adding a comment that didnt treat me like a 13 year old newbie and try to reiterate points and advice already dispensed (and actually tried before i even posted:) )
im not talking about changing any h/w registers or anything of the sort
I just want to be able to spoof the MAC via the same old driver option as ive done in every other version of windows ive run, its comical that Vista, which i LOATHED and uninstalled after 24 hours, worked fine, but in Windows 7...the Windows version that Vista was supposed to be, and a BIG improvement it FAILS
Thats called a regression bug Microsoft....look it up, they get solved in Open source software every day of the week, its called supporting your users
As opposed ot the bury the head in the sand and blame your users approach evidenced in this thread, so far......
hehe butt in all you like, i have no issue with what youre saying at all :)
I have several wireless cards. I believe at least one has a h/w register for the MAC address that is r/w. It can be changed as you say, stylemessiah. I am only butting in to say, this is not spoofing . You literally are changing the MAC address with your utility if that register is being rewritten.
</ Butting out >
Frankly i was enjoying someone adding a comment that didnt treat me like a 13 year old newbie and try to reiterate points and advice already dispensed (and actually tried before i even posted:) )
im not talking about changing any h/w registers or anything of the sort
I just want to be able to spoof the MAC via the same old driver option as ive done in every other version of windows ive run, its comical that Vista, which i LOATHED and uninstalled after 24 hours, worked fine, but in Windows 7...the Windows version that Vista was supposed to be, and a BIG improvement it FAILS
Thats called a regression bug Microsoft....look it up, they get solved in Open source software every day of the week, its called supporting your users
As opposed ot the bury the head in the sand and blame your users approach evidenced in this thread, so far......
Have you tried reinstalling the driver in compatibility mode for Vista or XP as long as the driver gives you the option change the value of network interface? That would avoid any registry tweeks, 3rd party soft or batch files created without damaging your hardware or permanently being forced.
Regards
Perhaps you need to think a bit before you post.....
hehe butt in all you like, i have no issue with what youre saying at all :)
I have several wireless cards. I believe at least one has a h/w register for the MAC address that is r/w. It can be changed as you say, stylemessiah. I am only butting in to say, this is not spoofing . You literally are changing the MAC address with your utility if that register is being rewritten.
</ Butting out >
Frankly i was enjoying someone adding a comment that didnt treat me like a 13 year old newbie and try to reiterate points and advice already dispensed (and actually tried before i even posted:) )
im not talking about changing any h/w registers or anything of the sort
I just want to be able to spoof the MAC via the same old driver option as ive done in every other version of windows ive run, its comical that Vista, which i LOATHED and uninstalled after 24 hours, worked fine, but in Windows 7...the Windows version that Vista was supposed to be, and a BIG improvement it FAILS
Thats called a regression bug Microsoft....look it up, they get solved in Open source software every day of the week, its called supporting your users
As opposed ot the bury the head in the sand and blame your users approach evidenced in this thread, so far......
Have you tried reinstalling the driver in compatibility mode for Vista or XP as long as the driver gives you the option change the value of network interface? That would avoid any registry tweeks, 3rd party soft or batch files created without damaging your hardware or permanently being forced.
RegardsUnless you know something about the windows .inf file format that ive missed, its not possible to install a driver in compatibility mode......
And to help you further your education, even IF one were able to install a driver in "compatibility mode", the option that the driver presents to change the Network Address is identical to the registry edit...theres no difference. Windows reads the address from the NetworkAddress registry key, the driver option just allows you to write to this key without navigating to the registry...which brings us back to the main issue...Windows 7 has a bug for wireless networking...it WILL NOT allow you to change the network address.
Its as simple as that.
What it amounts to is Microsoft selling an updated OS with REDUCED functionality
What it also means is that poeople are spending (im in Australia):
Home Premium Upgrade - $179
Home Premium Full - $289
Professional Upgrade - $379
Ultimate Upgrade - $399
And getting a bug for all that cash, seems expensive for reduced functionality.....
Now, if i were living in America, home of litigation, by now there would be the beginnings of a class action lawsuit brewing...hang on, maybe thats the ONLY way to get some action here....
If this functionality has been disabled on purpose, without notice (ive recieved emails from conspiracy theorists that Microsoft left MAC changing out of Windows 7 wireless on purpose), then you can bet that a class action lawsuit will be getting my vote, not least for false and misleading advertising using the words "Ugrade" and "Improved" while specifically reducing functionality without divulging it is good grounds for a lawsuit in at least my country....Its a poor thing to ADVERTISE a new OS as being IMPROVED , when its actually REDUCING FUNCTIONALITY
Just F$%K!NG FIX IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll be posting to every online IT newsletter/magazine/forum about this as im fed up with Microsoft ignoring the issue. This could be an even bigger publicity fail than the Creative and DanielK debacle earlier this year...and we all know how that turned out....
BTW
This thread is still in the top ten of google searches for windows 7 change mac address....
I would be tempted to make connection between this and licensing control, since a MAC address can easily serve as a unique fingerprint.
However, considering you mention it does propagate correctly through the 64bit registry, I would guess in this case there is just some 32bit compatibility problem that needs to be tracked down.
::))Hi,
most of...computer components serve as a unique fingerprint "but as long as..it's not that expensive - story" can very easily install different drivers instead the recommanded or provided why not change a mac address, can only get malfunctioned or broken h/w.I find a proper way on how to change Mac address under windows 7.
Windows 7 is very strange on changing Mac address, it can only be done sucessfully if you start the MAC adress on the first two characters start from 12 XX XX XX XX XX (You can put any number after 12)
For example, if you want to change mac address for a lan card , you should start the mac address from this style , such as 12 A6 57 32 76 D4. Then the Mac address changing for a lan card should be done sucessfully.
Also I recommend that Mac Makeup Ver. 1.95d is the best MAC changing software for windows 7, I have tested it and always sucessfully changing the mac address starting from 12 XX XX XX XX XX.
You can download Mac Makeup from http://www.gorlani.com/publicprj/macmakeup/macmakeup.asp
I find a proper way on how to change Mac address under windows 7.
Windows 7 is very strange on changing Mac address, it can only be done sucessfully if you start the MAC adress on the first two characters start from 12 XX XX XX XX XX (You can put any number after 12)
For example, if you want to change mac address for a lan card , you should start the mac address from this style , such as 12 A6 57 32 76 D4. Then the Mac address changing for a lan card should be done sucessfully.
Also I recommend that Mac Makeup Ver. 1.95d is the best MAC changing software for windows 7, I have tested it and always sucessfully changing the mac address starting from 12 XX XX XX XX XX.
You can download Mac Makeup from http://www.gorlani.com/publicprj/macmakeup/macmakeup.asp
Thanks for the post, but starting my MAC address, and i think for everyone else experiencing the issue, with 12 isnt really a fix :)
Its not your fault, its Microsoft's!
The insanity is that i can even run a frankenMac OSX install on this PC and connect to the internet...but Windows 7....no way
p.s. I agree that MAC Makeup is a good util, simple, clean and does the job, ive used it before
...I heard in Australia it's said "don't shoot the kangaroos"...the support CD came with your h/w...represents ONLY an .inf file?For your further education...general...and usually...the keys registry are written upon installation;
Perhaps you need to think a bit before you post.....
hehe butt in all you like, i have no issue with what youre saying at all :)
I have several wireless cards. I believe at least one has a h/w register for the MAC address that is r/w. It can be changed as you say, stylemessiah. I am only butting in to say, this is not spoofing . You literally are changing the MAC address with your utility if that register is being rewritten.
</ Butting out >
Frankly i was enjoying someone adding a comment that didnt treat me like a 13 year old newbie and try to reiterate points and advice already dispensed (and actually tried before i even posted:) )
im not talking about changing any h/w registers or anything of the sort
I just want to be able to spoof the MAC via the same old driver option as ive done in every other version of windows ive run, its comical that Vista, which i LOATHED and uninstalled after 24 hours, worked fine, but in Windows 7...the Windows version that Vista was supposed to be, and a BIG improvement it FAILS
Thats called a regression bug Microsoft....look it up, they get solved in Open source software every day of the week, its called supporting your users
As opposed ot the bury the head in the sand and blame your users approach evidenced in this thread, so far......
Have you tried reinstalling the driver in compatibility mode for Vista or XP as long as the driver gives you the option change the value of network interface? That would avoid any registry tweeks, 3rd party soft or batch files created without damaging your hardware or permanently being forced.
RegardsUnless you know something about the windows .inf file format that ive missed, its not possible to install a driver in compatibility mode......
And to help you further your education, even IF one were able to install a driver in "compatibility mode", the option that the driver presents to change the Network Address is identical to the registry edit...theres no difference. Windows reads the address from the NetworkAddress registry key, the driver option just allows you to write to this key without navigating to the registry...which brings us back to the main issue...Windows 7 has a bug for wireless networking...it WILL NOT allow you to change the network address.
Its as simple as that.
What it amounts to is Microsoft selling an updated OS with REDUCED functionality
What it also means is that poeople are spending (im in Australia):
Home Premium Upgrade - $179
Home Premium Full - $289
Professional Upgrade - $379
Ultimate Upgrade - $399
And getting a bug for all that cash, seems expensive for reduced functionality.....
Now, if i were living in America, home of litigation, by now there would be the beginnings of a class action lawsuit brewing...hang on, maybe thats the ONLY way to get some action here....
If this functionality has been disabled on purpose, without notice (ive recieved emails from conspiracy theorists that Microsoft left MAC changing out of Windows 7 wireless on purpose), then you can bet that a class action lawsuit will be getting my vote, not least for false and misleading advertising using the words "Ugrade" and "Improved" while specifically reducing functionality without divulging it is good grounds for a lawsuit in at least my country....Its a poor thing to ADVERTISE a new OS as being IMPROVED , when its actually REDUCING FUNCTIONALITY
Just F$%K!NG FIX IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll be posting to every online IT newsletter/magazine/forum about this as im fed up with Microsoft ignoring the issue. This could be an even bigger publicity fail than the Creative and DanielK debacle earlier this year...and we all know how that turned out....
BTW
This thread is still in the top ten of google searches for windows 7 change mac address....
running in compatibility mode the registry is going to be different for each selection except the H/W id...
Regards
Actually in Australia, we shoot and eat the kangaroo, and the emu. We're the only country on the planet which eats the animals on its coat of arms...
...I heard in Australia it's said "don't shoot the kangaroos"...the support CD came with your h/w...represents ONLY an .inf file?For your further education...general...and usually...the keys registry are written upon installation;
Perhaps you need to think a bit before you post.....
hehe butt in all you like, i have no issue with what youre saying at all :)
I have several wireless cards. I believe at least one has a h/w register for the MAC address that is r/w. It can be changed as you say, stylemessiah. I am only butting in to say, this is not spoofing . You literally are changing the MAC address with your utility if that register is being rewritten.
</ Butting out >
Frankly i was enjoying someone adding a comment that didnt treat me like a 13 year old newbie and try to reiterate points and advice already dispensed (and actually tried before i even posted:) )
im not talking about changing any h/w registers or anything of the sort
I just want to be able to spoof the MAC via the same old driver option as ive done in every other version of windows ive run, its comical that Vista, which i LOATHED and uninstalled after 24 hours, worked fine, but in Windows 7...the Windows version that Vista was supposed to be, and a BIG improvement it FAILS
Thats called a regression bug Microsoft....look it up, they get solved in Open source software every day of the week, its called supporting your users
As opposed ot the bury the head in the sand and blame your users approach evidenced in this thread, so far......
Have you tried reinstalling the driver in compatibility mode for Vista or XP as long as the driver gives you the option change the value of network interface? That would avoid any registry tweeks, 3rd party soft or batch files created without damaging your hardware or permanently being forced.
RegardsUnless you know something about the windows .inf file format that ive missed, its not possible to install a driver in compatibility mode......
And to help you further your education, even IF one were able to install a driver in "compatibility mode", the option that the driver presents to change the Network Address is identical to the registry edit...theres no difference. Windows reads the address from the NetworkAddress registry key, the driver option just allows you to write to this key without navigating to the registry...which brings us back to the main issue...Windows 7 has a bug for wireless networking...it WILL NOT allow you to change the network address.
Its as simple as that.
What it amounts to is Microsoft selling an updated OS with REDUCED functionality
What it also means is that poeople are spending (im in Australia):
Home Premium Upgrade - $179
Home Premium Full - $289
Professional Upgrade - $379
Ultimate Upgrade - $399
And getting a bug for all that cash, seems expensive for reduced functionality.....
Now, if i were living in America, home of litigation, by now there would be the beginnings of a class action lawsuit brewing...hang on, maybe thats the ONLY way to get some action here....
If this functionality has been disabled on purpose, without notice (ive recieved emails from conspiracy theorists that Microsoft left MAC changing out of Windows 7 wireless on purpose), then you can bet that a class action lawsuit will be getting my vote, not least for false and misleading advertising using the words "Ugrade" and "Improved" while specifically reducing functionality without divulging it is good grounds for a lawsuit in at least my country....Its a poor thing to ADVERTISE a new OS as being IMPROVED , when its actually REDUCING FUNCTIONALITY
Just F$%K!NG FIX IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll be posting to every online IT newsletter/magazine/forum about this as im fed up with Microsoft ignoring the issue. This could be an even bigger publicity fail than the Creative and DanielK debacle earlier this year...and we all know how that turned out....
BTW
This thread is still in the top ten of google searches for windows 7 change mac address....
running in compatibility mode the registry is going to be different for each selection except the H/W id...
Regards
Kangaroo is actually very very lean and quite good for you. You can buy it in most large supermarkets here nowadays....
The driver option "Network Address" is not affected in any way shape or form by compatability mode. Compatibility mode AFAIK only affects binary applications.
If i was having troiuble with say the Atheros Client Utility, then i might try compatability mode, but for drivers compatibility mode doesnt apply...as ive already pointed out, you cant install an .inf file in compatibility mode.....
Why people keep wanting to try and move the conversation away from the essentiil fact that its a Windows 7 (seemingly only 32bit Windows 7 as we have seen a 64bit user report he has no issues) networking issue, or as i call it a bug...
It should be a simple fix, so why am i still posting about it. There are a lot of issues with wireless under Windows 7 from what ive seen across the internet, so it seems Microsoft hasnt in fact learned its lessons form earlier fails like Vista and is still releasing hurried half baked operating systems with what is essentially a GUI upgrade and very little improvement (and at least one regression bug) under the hood.............
Its getting embarrassing, and the positive gleam that has graced Windows 7 during beta (where most folks played with it like a shiny new toy and didnt live with it day to day) is now starting to tarnish as people start to install it and try to use it as their primary interface only to realise its business as usual at Microsoft...hurried release, and we all get to play the Wait Until SP1 game YET again
If this was open source software it would either be:
A) Fixed by the community by now
or
B) I would be able to view the source code myself and fix it
Surely even the slightest amount (and i fear more to come) of bad press over Windows 7 (which has had a honeymoon period for a while now) is only going to further strengthen open source alternatives like Linux's positives over the continuing failure of a multinational like Microsoft to deliver a fully working and easily maintained product
Hmmm ideally what would you rather:
A closed source OS where you have to rely on the closed source company to update/fix the OS, and pay a premium
OR
An open OS where not only are issues discovered by a large userbase, but they are fixed by that same large community for free....
I'd even be willing to pay for fixes/solutions under a Linux licensing system
They days where you pay for the OS are surely almost over, Linux is always gaining ground and with rumored entry by Google into the mix, its hard to see how Microsoft can continue to charge outrageous amounts for products that have a track record of being less than sterling at release
The only reason i still use XP is that it runs the software i need daily that sometimes isnt replaceable by open source, and at the end of the day even the most open source friendly person does get lazy and revert to using what is the easiest to live with overall. And oh yeah its taken 3 service packs to get to a reasonable level of security and stability....
If Windows 7 continues to serve up issues (and from what ive seen, it will sadly) that make it no different from other undertested and hastily released OS's from Microsoft, then i feel that theyve put the nail in their own coffin, and they deserve it for their continued contempt of their userbase who they think will alway sbuy their product and just sit by meekly and wait for a service pack to fix issues that SHOULDNT be evident at release time
Treating users of your products with contempt comes at a price and its hardly one that Microsoft can afford.
Sorry for the sermon, but there it is
In the meantime i want the bug fixed, and a frickin apology from Microsoft for wasting my and every other users time being a lab rat and trying to resolve issues for them by trying countless drivers and settings in the vain hope that one might work...arent there quite a lot of overpaid developers in your organisation?
My time is worth something too Microsoft.......perhaps i should send you an invoice for my hours....
Fix it
p.s. As a aside i just this afternoon installed the new Ubuntu 9.10, and guess what, wireless worked out of the box after running macchanger once to spoof the MAC address....- Over a week after Windows 7 release and all i have is a shiny coaster with a useless OS on it
Still cant connect to the internet with Windows 7
Have i heard form anyone from Microsoft, NO
Did they ever return an email when i reported this issue during beta testing...NO
Could they give a ____ now...NO
Under Linux it would very likely have been fixed BEFORE release as the vendors and release groups actually LISTEN to their users
And if the bug had of made it into the release, it would likely have been fixed within 2 days......
Getting tired of the inaction, and watching the bug reports mount across the interweb.... Over a week after Windows 7 release and all i have is a shiny coaster with a useless OS on it
Still cant connect to the internet with Windows 7
Have i heard form anyone from Microsoft, NO
Did they ever return an email when i reported this issue during beta testing...NO
Could they give a ____ now...NO
Under Linux it would very likely have been fixed BEFORE release as the vendors and release groups actually LISTEN to their users
And if the bug had of made it into the release, it would likely have been fixed within 2 days......
Getting tired of the inaction, and watching the bug reports mount across the interweb....
It's sad you see this way, I guess 80% of your h/w comp drivers are not windows 7 logo certified, mostly being imported from previous versions of windows and declared compatible, linux has also plenty driver issues but doesn't give you the opportunity to express yourself on a linux signed forum giving you the option to compile yourself the driver or fix the problem asking assistance not claiming support.
RegardsOver a week after Windows 7 release and all i have is a shiny coaster with a useless OS on it
Still cant connect to the internet with Windows 7
Have i heard form anyone from Microsoft, NO
Did they ever return an email when i reported this issue during beta testing...NO
Could they give a ____ now...NO
Under Linux it would very likely have been fixed BEFORE release as the vendors and release groups actually LISTEN to their users
And if the bug had of made it into the release, it would likely have been fixed within 2 days......
Getting tired of the inaction, and watching the bug reports mount across the interweb....
It's sad you see this way, I guess 80% of your h/w comp drivers are not windows 7 logo certified, mostly being imported from previous versions of windows and declared compatible, linux has also plenty driver issues but doesn't give you the opportunity to express yourself on a linux signed forum giving you the option to compile yourself the driver or fix the problem asking assistance not claiming support.
Regards
Actually you might have asked before making assumptions about which drivers im using...
For the record, apart form my Leadtek DVT1000T DVB card and my Audigy 4 (neither of which ive bothered installing drivers for as im trying to get networking going before wasting my time installing these extra drivers and only ending up ghosting back to XP which i CAN connecy to the net on), im using drivers either supplied on install from the windows 7 DVD, or downloaded from windows update catalog (you'd know about my use of the windows update catalog if you had actually bothered to read the entire thread before attacking me)
Always read the full thread before launching what you think is a winning attac, stops you from looking like a fool :) :)
And Linux ALWAYS gives you the opportunity to fix the issue, for starters you get the source code
If microsoft want to give me the source code, ill fix it myself and leave their forums alone....waiting...nup, ____ not freezing over......
With every day we're finding out nothing has changed, new issues every day........
Im only asking for one bug fix to be fixed which SHOULD NEVER have made its way into a final release, they must be terribly embarrassed, it shows that their developers really do not take pride in, or pay attention to their work, its an amateur hour bug.
My PC uses the same drivers as yours included on DVD but they are shaped for Windows 7 not certified, adding an extra line with Windows 7 in .inf file (about you were talking) doesn't mean drivers are designed for fully functionality in Windows 7 is for checking signature purpuses only.
A personal advise would be download the latest drivers from manufact. web site and run the setup.exe in compatibility mode were designed for...could be shortcut and an alternative of downloading a freeware instead and see your issue solved.
RegardsMy PC uses the same drivers as yours included on DVD but they are shaped for Windows 7 not certified, adding an extra line with Windows 7 in .inf file (about you were talking) doesn't mean drivers are designed for fully functionality in Windows 7 is for checking signature purpuses only.
A personal advise would be download the latest drivers from manufact. web site and run the setup.exe in compatibility mode were designed for...could be shortcut and an alternative of downloading a freeware instead and see your issue solved.
Regards
Did you not read the entire thread yet?
I am not a newbie
I already tried the Vista drivers in compatibility mode BEFORE i ever showed up here, in fact no one here has suggested something that i hadnt already tried BEFORE posting. One insane person suggested i install the driver in compatability mode....as if you can actually install an .inf file in compatibility mode.
There are a lot of people here who post the same things over and over again, sometime is think in the vain hope that my problem might magically go away if i follow their instructions ONE MORE TIME, and they can claim credit for a fix.
Only problem is they DONT READ THE THREAD and just blather on regardless, trying to look clever...epic fail
Stop doing what Microsoft does and blaming the end user, this end user has 30 years of experience and could actually fix the bug if he had the source code.
My job entails supporting after 4000 users across an entire state for a government department, its not just about me. I also get to test software before my employer purchases it and i get to make recommendations....you wanna guess what ive already had to say about Windows 7?
I had hoped to get some assistance form Microsoft quietly without dropping those facts, but since they just play the ignore card, well, they can hang themselves.....
They will be staying with XP for quite some time going on the amount of drama thats being revealed about Windows 7.
Like ive said already, i brought this up during Beta phase, i posted here a week ago, and nothing from Microsoft.......
- In this case I might need your advice, I'm also an end user and not doing what microsoft does or at least in your oppinion,the wifi driver of my PC doesn't even give the option to change the address or insert a value for the MAC address, who should I blame in case would be necessary to change the MAC address?
The manufacturer/vendor-probably the answer would be as simple as "changing the h/w id can cause malfunctions of it and no assistance for such a issues will be provided", microsoft..."before asking for support make sure that your h/w is on compatibility list and certified and for further technical support contact your vendor/manufacturer"...also does not provide any warranty for 3rd party software.
Any advice...or solution?
Regards In this case I might need your advice, I'm also an end user and not doing what microsoft does or at least in your oppinion,the wifi driver of my PC doesn't even give the option to change the address or insert a value for the MAC address, who should I blame in case would be necessary to change the MAC address?
If your wifi driver doesnt have the option then youre unlucky, mine does, always has, and was designed to have one. I actually bought it because it had this fucntionailty as i needed it. It is supported on the hardware list, how many times do i have to point out the drivers i have last tested came WITH Windows 7 and were also downloaded of windows update (as advised by Microsoft themselves in another thread)
The manufacturer/vendor-probably the answer would be as simple as "changing the h/w id can cause malfunctions of it and no assistance for such a issues will be provided", microsoft..."before asking for support make sure that your h/w is on compatibility list and certified and for further technical support contact your vendor/manufacturer"...also does not provide any warranty for 3rd party software.
Any advice...or solution?
Regards
It also works under every version of window until Windows 7.
Im not going to get into a hypothetical conversation with you....i half expect the next post to be "If i have a network card that doesnt have XX option, but it was delivered to me by unicorn....."
Unicorns dont exist, and neither does a solution to Microsofts bug.
Get it into your thick skull, its their BUG, im just trying to live with it.
If you want to carry on like a fanboy, you'd be welcome over at the apple forums where fanboys are tolerated.........mostly because ignorance tolerates ignorance and theyre all sheep
If your wifi driver doesnt have the option then youre unlucky, mine does, always has, and was designed to have one. I actually bought it because it had this fucntionailty as i needed it. It is supported on the hardware list, how many times do i have to point out the drivers i have last tested came WITH Windows 7 and were also downloaded of windows update (as advised by Microsoft themselves in another thread)
It also works under every version of window until Windows 7.
Im not going to get into a hypothetical conversation with you....i half expect the next post to be "If i have a network card that doesnt have XX option, but it was delivered to me by unicorn....."
Unicorns dont exist, and neither does a solution to Microsofts bug.
Get it into your thick skull, its their BUG, im just trying to live with it.
If you want to carry on like a fanboy, you'd be welcome over at the apple forums where fanboys are tolerated.........mostly because ignorance tolerates ignorance and theyre all sheep
I rely red all your posts and the conclusion, suggestion...I'm not a computer literate, never studied medicine but I guess you need the prescription changed...but you gonna tell me not taking sedatives (unless using contraceptics which...still the same kind for some sort of a kind::)..it's like the 3rd or 4th time I've not and no one else reported as abuse..you can also have this satisfaction but none of the above match an reply or quote when others trying to help solve your issue...unless forgot you are not writting to..Microsoft Technical Team or vendors of your h/w.
Regards- We really need a fix for this issue! I've tried everything in this thread without any results. This worked in XP and if nothing happens I've to downgrade because I must be able to connect to my Work Office.
We really need a fix for this issue! I've tried everything in this thread without any results. This worked in XP and if nothing happens I've to downgrade because I must be able to connect to my Work Office.
They just continue to IGNORE us in afraid
Way to go Microsoft
Are all of you that are having this problem using a network card made by the same manufacturer? The reason I'm asking is, the above mentioned steps seem to work just fine on my wireless NIC card. Maybe the manufacturer disabled the ability to spoof the MAC address in thier windows 7 driver? Maybe try switching out your wireless card with one from another manufacturer?
Are all of you that are having this problem using a network card made by the same manufacturer? The reason I'm asking is, the above mentioned steps seem to work just fine on my wireless NIC card. Maybe the manufacturer disabled the ability to spoof the MAC address in thier windows 7 driver? Maybe try switching out your wireless card with one from another manufacturer?
How many times do i have to use the phrase "read the entire thread BEFORE commenting"....
For the lazy:
* Different manufacturers
* Many different drivers tried by me at least (last count 14 drivers), and NO, the manufacturer hasnt disabled any functionality. Also tried, if you had bothered to read the entire thread, were 4 drivers from Microsoft.....including the ones shipped on the dvd and the ones from windows update catalog.
And NO, I'M NOT BUYING A DIFFERENT CARD BECAUSE YOU MADE A MISTAKE MICROSOFT
YOU'RE TAKING THE PI$$!Im having the same problem, its driving me crazy! I cant find a single solution to the problem on any website. I tried changing the address to something starting with 12 just to see if it works, and it does.. but thats no use cuz i need it to start with 00! Im sure ur having the same problem too.
Stylemessiah, do you think there is some place in the registry that we can change that value of 12 to what ever we want? There has to be a way to be able to fix it via the regsitry.
Please if you come up with a solution let me know, my email is roryh86[at]hotmail.com. If i come with anything il let u know too, il post it over here.
By the way, im trying to change the mac address of my intel wifi 4965AGN.. On the other hand, changing the mac address of my Aethros LAN card to anything I want seems to work just fine, no restriction to 12 xx xx xx xx, which is really weird. And im using Windows 7 RTM x64 bit.
p.s: youve written a ____ of a lot in this thread! how do u have the energy? :PIm having the same problem, its driving me crazy! I cant find a single solution to the problem on any website. I tried changing the address to something starting with 12 just to see if it works, and it does.. but thats no use cuz i need it to start with 00! Im sure ur having the same problem too.
Stylemessiah, do you think there is some place in the registry that we can change that value of 12 to what ever we want? There has to be a way to be able to fix it via the regsitry.
Please if you come up with a solution let me know, my email is roryh86[at]hotmail.com. If i come with anything il let u know too, il post it over here.
By the way, im trying to change the mac address of my intel wifi 4965AGN.. On the other hand, changing the mac address of my Aethros LAN card to anything I want seems to work just fine, no restriction to 12 xx xx xx xx, which is really weird. And im using Windows 7 RTM x64 bit.
p.s: youve written a ____ of a lot in this thread! how do u have the energy? :PYeah, starting with 12 isnt a solution for anyone
It isnt likely that the solution is registry based, i think its most likely a binary file issue.
It seems to be only a 32bit issue, as others have posted here and elsewhere that the issue doesnt exist in 64bit builds....
Dont ask me why the base code should be different between 32 and 64 biut, it points to bad coding and code maintenance, it basically shouldnt happen, certainly not when youre the size of Microsoft, its just ridiculous....I dont have a lot of energy, its just being amazed at the issue and the poor response form Microsoft that keeps me going.
At this point im pretty much committed to XP as daily i see the buglist expand for Windows 7...like ive said earlier, it seems nothing has changed at Microsoft, yet another rushed release thats not much more than a pretty GUI update.
If i hear anything about a solution, ill certainly send you an email
- No its not just a 32bit issue.
Im currently using Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit and Im have the problem your facing. I have the final build string 7600.16385.
So it doesnt have anything to do with the base code being different between 32 and 64 bit. - Just read through this whole thread...
Mr. stylemessiah, it seems to me you actually had the Microsoft China people interested in helping you for a while... They asked you to do something specific to further their debugging process - quite likely to educate them as much as anything else - and you refused.
I suspect you'd get further if you did what they asked, however pedestrian it seems to you. After that I suspect there's a possibility they'd take it it to the next step.
It's pretty clear no one here is interacting directly with Microsoft Engineering, nor the decision makers who chose to make things work differently. All we have are these nice folks from China who are trying in their way to help... Maybe you should try to play their game a bit?
Just my opinion (I have 34 years computer experience, by the way).
-Noel Just read through this whole thread...
Mr. stylemessiah, it seems to me you actually had the Microsoft China people interested in helping you for a while... They asked you to do something specific to further their debugging process - quite likely to educate them as much as anything else - and you refused.
I suspect you'd get further if you did what they asked, however pedestrian it seems to you. After that I suspect there's a possibility they'd take it it to the next step.
It's pretty clear no one here is interacting directly with Microsoft Engineering, nor the decision makers who chose to make things work differently. All we have are these nice folks from China who are trying in their way to help... Maybe you should try to play their game a bit?
Just my opinion (I have 34 years computer experience, by the way).
-Noel
If wouldn't have seen the picture several times would have bet you are the China's Big MAC, but you also came with no support for the consumers, but suggestions irelevant to their needs...a sort of messanger?:)Nothing personal but I guess it's the way you like to play...stylemessiah looks quiet desperate...or...
RegardsJust read through this whole thread...
Mr. stylemessiah, it seems to me you actually had the Microsoft China people interested in helping you for a while... They asked you to do something specific to further their debugging process - quite likely to educate them as much as anything else - and you refused.
I suspect you'd get further if you did what they asked, however pedestrian it seems to you. After that I suspect there's a possibility they'd take it it to the next step.
It's pretty clear no one here is interacting directly with Microsoft Engineering, nor the decision makers who chose to make things work differently. All we have are these nice folks from China who are trying in their way to help... Maybe you should try to play their game a bit?
Just my opinion (I have 34 years computer experience, by the way).
-NoelPlease feel free to point me to ANY POST in this thread where i was asked to do anything that WOULD MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE or help further a solution.
You must not be reading the same thread i am in, all i got was suggestions to do things a newbie would suggest or which i had already done, given my years of experience, and before even posting here.
You have also missed where despite clarifying what id done people continually suggest the same thing over and over, most of the time people quote the same basic things.
I only refused to post screenshots to skydrive...mainly because everyone knows what windows 7 networking dialogs look like, or they should. Nothing in ANY screenshot was going to further any solution, so it was a redundant suggestion. Everyone knows that the network address field under the drivers advanced properties is where you put a MAC address in. I can assure you im using the same Windows 7 32 bit that Microsoft sold to everyone else, im not using a special version where im hopelessly lost and cant find that particular box....The issue in NO WAY relates to where im adding the MAC address, never has...it relates to the underlying code, feel free to give me a copy of the windows 7 source code and ill gladly take a pic of the bug in the code for you and upload it to skydrive
If youve got an actual point or any constructive ideas, feel free to add them. In the meantime, like ive suggested to most everyone who has chimed in with guns blazing, i suggest you read the full post more carefully....
As for the people monitoring here nto being directly involved with engineering...well i did submit bug reports during Beta like a good little boy and have since emailed via every method i can think of to Microsoft to get someone to fix this, this is just another medium to raise the issue. Im pretty sure its not just end user forum people who frequent the place....
The point is that this bug should never have made it to release, it shows that they are rushing things as usual and makes you wonder about internal testing for one thing. Plenty of people use MAC address ranging for a number of purposes, not least several companies ive worked in support for in the past who like to set their own MAC addresses. Would have thought that Microsoft would have tested this...apparently nothing has changed....end user ignored....wait for SP1...standard Microsoft support mantra, id call that contempt for your customers.
If i was a large corporate i reckon id have a solution by now, but im an end user, and they like to ignore us. The reason they ignore us, especially in this initial period after theyve sold us buggy software is that we're not corporate customers, they know that corporate uptake always lags behind end user uptake. They think that this gives them say 6 months to fix an issue via update or SP, as we, and im probably going to shock yo here, are basically treated like guinea pigs....but as long as when the corporate customers come along to adopt it its working, you know, thats fine.....
- You've already identified the post in which someone asked you to do something and you flat refused. Your arrogant attitude clearly isn't working, and yet you seem to prefer to rant than to even bend a little in the interest of cooperating. "Here's the screen shot you requested, along with some other pertinent information" would likely have gotten you further, that's all I'm saying.
I'll put it succinctly: Novak Wu takes an interest in what you're reporting and asks for more info. You flat refuse to provide it and use threatening language. Novak stops helping.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to imagine he figures his time is probably better spent with cooperative customers.
Hey, there's stuff about this system bothers the ____ out of me too, and I've even been known to get pissy about it, but other than maybe making me feel a little better doing so never helps make it better. Never.
>If wouldn't have seen the picture several times would have bet you are the China's Big MAC
I have no idea what that's supposed to mean, but I'm a Windows user just like you - trying to both get some education on how best to use it and to help others when I can in the spirit of giving back. Forums and the sharing of experience is the best thing the Internet has to offer.
-NoelP.S., no need to thank me for helping keep your thread on the top of the list. :) >If wouldn't have seen the picture several times would have bet you are the China's Big MAC
Hi Noel,
I have no idea what that's supposed to mean, but I'm a Windows user just like you - trying to both get some education on how best to use it and to help others when I can in the spirit of giving back. Forums and the sharing of experience is the best thing the Internet has to offer.
-NoelP.S., no need to thank me for helping keep your thread on the top of the list. :)
That's the most pertinent quote to this thread, it just seemed to me you gave the abusers a sort of satisfaction with the previous post, already takes too long to read all the posts with the meaning of help on this thread.
And I guess you didn't read all before posting on this thread.
Regards- Proposed As Answer byN.Eee Monday, November 23, 2009 11:45 AM
- Unproposed As Answer bystylemessiah Monday, November 23, 2009 11:48 AM
- Hi,
Above all, sorry for my english.
I don't think it's a bug, is intentionally made...
MAC address: "XY-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX"
"X" can be anything hexadecimal.
The hexadecimal "Y", written in binary format, is
Y: "kmnp", where "p" is the least significant bit;
p=0 --> unicast;
p=1 --> multicast;
n=0 --> globally assigned MAC;
n=1 --> locally administered;
So, actually MAC can be changed not only to 12-XX-...,
but to any combination in which p=0 and n=1;
"Y" can be 2, 6, A or E.
I think it can be tweaked in registry, since it apply only to Wireless,
not to Ethernet adapters. But I don't have much time to experiment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:MAC_address
Regards Hi,
Above all, sorry for my english.
I don't think it's a bug, is intentionally made...
MAC address: "XY-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX"
"X" can be anything hexadecimal.
The hexadecimal "Y", written in binary format, is
Y: "kmnp", where "p" is the least significant bit;
p=0 --> unicast;
p=1 --> multicast;
n=0 --> globally assigned MAC;
n=1 --> locally administered;
So, actually MAC can be changed not only to 12-XX-...,
but to any combination in which p=0 and n=1;
"Y" can be 2, 6, A or E.
I think it can be tweaked in registry, since it apply only to Wireless,
not to Ethernet adapters. But I don't have much time to experiment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:MAC_address
Regards
Finally, someone who actually said something useful! This is a step forward. If only everyone on this thread could say something useful like that without having to argue like a bunch of school girls.
I tried testing N.Eee's method to see if examples like 1A, 02, 16 0E in the first two spaces of the mac address works and indeed it does. Any hexadecimal works in the first space of the MAC Address. The only problem now is to figure out how to make the second space in the mac address be hexadecimal too.
I will do further research and let you know if anything comes up.
Please if anyone has good technical computer skills, try to give it a go. Help would be appreciated.
Thanks!- Same problem here (now).
I don't know why, but is this:
- I tryed many win7 beta versions from microsoft.com (builds 7000, 7100 and 7200) never had that problem.
- So I bought some oem keys for my desktop and notebook, in desk everything runs fine, but in notebook doesn't; wireless's mac is fixed (is a usb wireless adapter).
- I tested several times, that same adapter with the same driver works fine in desk but not in noteeobk.
- But somehow desktop stoped to change the wlan macs too. I used the System Recovery and everything back to normal (wlan was able to change it's mac again).
- And now I had to format my desk (bought a new harddisk) and nothing is this world makes the wlan's mac 'changeable' again...
I have to change it (at least at notebook) because someone (I don't know who) haves the same MAC address at my college.
Unfortunately, its not a step forward, you cant start a MAC address with 00, which is what i need to do, and what ive done with this card (and others) for every previous version of windows.Hi,
Above all, sorry for my english.
I don't think it's a bug, is intentionally made...
MAC address: "XY-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX"
"X" can be anything hexadecimal.
The hexadecimal "Y", written in binary format, is
Y: "kmnp", where "p" is the least significant bit;
p=0 --> unicast;
p=1 --> multicast;
n=0 --> globally assigned MAC;
n=1 --> locally administered;
So, actually MAC can be changed not only to 12-XX-...,
but to any combination in which p=0 and n=1;
"Y" can be 2, 6, A or E.
I think it can be tweaked in registry, since it apply only to Wireless,
not to Ethernet adapters. But I don't have much time to experiment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:MAC_address
Regards
Finally, someone who actually said something useful! This is a step forward. If only everyone on this thread could say something useful like that without having to argue like a bunch of school girls.
I tried testing N.Eee's method to see if examples like 1A, 02, 16 0E in the first two spaces of the mac address works and indeed it does. Any hexadecimal works in the first space of the MAC Address. The only problem now is to figure out how to make the second space in the mac address be hexadecimal too.
I will do further research and let you know if anything comes up.
Please if anyone has good technical computer skills, try to give it a go. Help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
I agree its a nice theory as shared above, but the essential point youre missing is that previous to Windows 7, there was no issue using any MAC address you liked. Therefore i believe this means that there is some code within Windows 7 that interprets the NetworkAddress value differently than its predecessors. And why?
And why does it appear to do so randomly, most 64bit people have no issue for example. This again leads me to call it a bug.
- I want a solution of this problem too. I had windows xp and recently upgraded to windows 7 professional edition. In xp i can easily change the MAC address but in windows 7 its giving me a lot of hard times and now i m facing problems accessing my school network. I have gone through the whole thread and tried them all nothing worked so far. So i just wanna know is there any person from microsoft who is monitoring this thread please come up at least with a reply that it is a bug and how much time you guys gonna need to solve this otherwise you people can suggest us to move to other OS. But we want a feedback.
Regards - I am having the same problem on a Panasonic CF-52 Toughbook with an Intel 5100 WiFi on the technet download of Windows 7 Ultimate x64. I can change my NIC's MAC using any of the normal methods(NetwokAddress in registry, third party utilities, driver page through device manager), but nothing works for the WiFi. I badly need this functionality to connect to my Exchange and VPN. I'm dual booting linux right now just to post this in the hopes Microsoft will pay attention if enough people report this issue.
I am having the same problem on a Panasonic CF-52 Toughbook with an Intel 5100 WiFi on the technet download of Windows 7 Ultimate x64. I can change my NIC's MAC using any of the normal methods(NetwokAddress in registry, third party utilities, driver page through device manager), but nothing works for the WiFi. I badly need this functionality to connect to my Exchange and VPN. I'm dual booting linux right now just to post this in the hopes Microsoft will pay attention if enough people report this issue.
Yeah i got the same for NIC it simply works but for Wifi no luck- Hi guys !
I had the identical issue as stylemessiah except i'm running a 64x version of Windows 7 Ultimate with an Intel Pro Wireless 4965agn card (newest drivers v.13.0.0.2 and digitally signed).I tried every suggestion here and everywhere else regedit various mac changing utilities etc. but it wouldnt budge to nothing except 12-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX until I tried downgrading my wifi drivers to version 11.5.1.2.Now it works ! ! !I just have to change the string in the registry and walla. I am not sure if this is the case with all of you who can't change your MAC because on XP I had no problems in switching my mac address with every version of the drivers so I too was sure it was just a win7 buggie but now I think its both driver and win7 related.Goodluck ! ! !
Good to hear you at least have a working wifi!Hi guys !
I had the identical issue as stylemessiah except i'm running a 64x version of Windows 7 Ultimate with an Intel Pro Wireless 4965agn card (newest drivers v.13.0.0.2 and digitally signed).I tried every suggestion here and everywhere else regedit various mac changing utilities etc. but it wouldnt budge to nothing except 12-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX until I tried downgrading my wifi drivers to version 11.5.1.2.Now it works ! ! !I just have to change the string in the registry and walla. I am not sure if this is the case with all of you who can't change your MAC because on XP I had no problems in switching my mac address with every version of the drivers so I too was sure it was just a win7 buggie but now I think its both driver and win7 related.Goodluck ! ! !
Ive lost count of the number of drivers ive tried...theres no driver solution for me, and im using a bog standard atheros based card. Theres no shortage of drivers available, but none work. The registry option is completely ignored for me no matter which driver im using.
Ive only been bringing this to their attention for like 5 months....nothing like being ignored. I mean their MO is to rush a release and make money
They had plenty of time to fix this in beta stage but they ignored my bug reports completely, and continue to do so....
At least youre working and on less person affected!
- have anyone tried adding in the registry a BINARY entry named: DefaultGatewayMac i know it mostly works on RAS interfaces but u can give it a try!
Kind regards,
RR - BTW im also facing problems with Mac address ,i use a HSPA 3G dial up modem and i have no mac at all,when i type ipconfig /all the physical address is empty,wondering if anyone can support me with that ,also a MSTF answerer from MSE support noticed he doesnt have a Mac eitherin the same cenario!!!!
any suggestive values for my BINARY mac entry?
DefaultGatewayMac ...
it comes by default like this : 0000000000000000
so i input my own values but i doubt they correct ,any help here?
kind regards,
RR
Hey samurajot, I just wanted to ask you, how did you downgrade the driver? I downloaded the Windows XP 64-bit 11.5.1.2 intel wifi 4965agn driver, it is an .EXE setup file, but I couldnt install it. And I tried to extract it to get the .inf files but also couldnt extract it. Could you please explain how to downgrade my wifi driver to 11.5.1.2?Hi guys !
I had the identical issue as stylemessiah except i'm running a 64x version of Windows 7 Ultimate with an Intel Pro Wireless 4965agn card (newest drivers v.13.0.0.2 and digitally signed).I tried every suggestion here and everywhere else regedit various mac changing utilities etc. but it wouldnt budge to nothing except 12-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX until I tried downgrading my wifi drivers to version 11.5.1.2.Now it works ! ! !I just have to change the string in the registry and walla. I am not sure if this is the case with all of you who can't change your MAC because on XP I had no problems in switching my mac address with every version of the drivers so I too was sure it was just a win7 buggie but now I think its both driver and win7 related.Goodluck ! ! !
I have ver 12 drivers installd currently.
Thanks!- roryh86 , are you using winxp64? If not you have to found the 11.5.1.2 version to your Vista/Seven. Then:
1 - Uninstall your current driver before install the new one (Control Panel > Device Manager > Right-Click in the device > Uninstall (and mark the 'Delete the driver software for this device').
2 - If the driver is re-auto install, just go Device Manager > Right-Click in the device > Update Driver Software... > Browse my computer for drive software > Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer > Then select the inf driver from "Have Disk".
3 - Done :) - To roryh86 ,
I had no problems when switching drivers. Just clicked the "11.5.1.2_VT64.exe" ( it's 37.3MB check just too be sure you have the same package ) and it switched so quickly from version 12 I couldn't even notice the WiFi disconnecting.
Though if nothing helps I had a similar issue with the drivers of my display adapter not so long ago. As I recall typing commands into the cmd console was the only way to extract the .ini files from the .exe archive.Google it I'm sure the process is explained somewhere .Goodluck !
