wendy326
asked on
mac address 00-00-00-00-00-00 on my network card - what does this mean?
I've been troubleshooting some problems with my cable modem connection. In the process, I discovered that my Windows XP Pro computer is reading my network card's MAC address as 00-00-00-00-00-00. This is invalid, right? What does this mean? My network connection seems to work fine, but I do have some intermittent connection issues and I'm wondering if this could be related. I tried changing the MAC address (I have the option to do so when I go into properties on the network card).
The card is listed as SiS 900-Based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter. If I look at the properties and click the advanced tab, I have the option of setting a value for "NetworkAddress". If set to the "not present" option, I get 00-00-00-00-00-00. I tried changing it to 11-11-11-11-11-11 and that worked but I lost my internet connection. I think the change confused my router.
Anyway, I'm wondering what I should do...is the card bad...do I need to take it out and see if there is an address listed on it...should I just change it to some other value??? I'm open to suggestions - this is kind of a weird thing and I'm not sure what the implications are.
Thanks!
Wendy
The card is listed as SiS 900-Based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter. If I look at the properties and click the advanced tab, I have the option of setting a value for "NetworkAddress". If set to the "not present" option, I get 00-00-00-00-00-00. I tried changing it to 11-11-11-11-11-11 and that worked but I lost my internet connection. I think the change confused my router.
Anyway, I'm wondering what I should do...is the card bad...do I need to take it out and see if there is an address listed on it...should I just change it to some other value??? I'm open to suggestions - this is kind of a weird thing and I'm not sure what the implications are.
Thanks!
Wendy
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Also the mobo usually has a sticker on one of the connectors listing the mac.
You cannot change the mac address of a NIC card. It is an embedded address stamped onto the board. Every manufacturer has a few hexadecimal digits in the mac address that identify the make, and the last ones are the serial number so to speak for that card. This way no 2 cards are EVER the same mac address. if we could change the mac address Layer 2 and layer 3 devices such as switches or routers would have such confusion it wouldnt work.
ASKER
Sorry for the delay in responding...I got a little too busy to troubleshoot. However, I just downloaded the latest SIS driver for the chipset on my motherboard, and voila! I have a MAC address now. Magic.
Thanks for the help...I'm going to split points between supercorey for suggesting a reinstall of the drivers, and for public for suggesting how to find them and reminding me the lan was on the mobo. I'm thrilled I didn't have to bother opening up the machine.
You guys are great!
Wendy
Thanks for the help...I'm going to split points between supercorey for suggesting a reinstall of the drivers, and for public for suggesting how to find them and reminding me the lan was on the mobo. I'm thrilled I didn't have to bother opening up the machine.
You guys are great!
Wendy
sorry hey was going through your q - where did yu download the driver from? I have similar problem with a laptop who's CD-ROM drive won't work and I can't connect to the network
ASKER
I had to figure out who made the chipset on my motherboard that had the lan on it. Then I went to their website to get the driver. You might try the website for your laptop manufacturer. Good luck.
thanx hey. will need your luck too