Missing a MAc address

[Gordy]

This is an odd problem I've just done a clean install on a notebook and I was suffering loads of problems getting it on the network to update windoze. After much swearing a cursing I realised that the LAN adapter (SiS 900 integrated fast ethernet) had no mac or physical address.

I've never seen this before ? Is it bizzare or is it just me?

I've just downloaded this tool here

http://www.klcconsulting.net/smac

Which appears to change the mac address I was just wondering if any1 else had suffered this problem before? And if they had used this tool?

Cheers

[Jiff Lemon]

nice util mate - but its only for Spoofing a MAC address.

You've got the correct drivers installed for the NIC yes? and if you do an IPConfig /all, what says it?

Never come across a NIC without a MAC

[Gordy]

ipconfig/all was reporting it as 00.00.00.00 now its reporting it as a valid mac address so the utility works fine from what I can see.

I know the internal nic had a mac address before as it was hooked up to a router which I setup and required its mac address. All I did was format the c: drive and install a new copy of winxp pro over winxp home. I can't see how that would result in a nic loosing its mac address.

My router here now actually can see the laptop which is good. I've stuck in a made up mac address for the time being till I can get to the clients and have a look at the old mac address saved on the router.

[scottyman]

don't think it can - very odd.
faulty driver? or not being recognised on the bus?
wonder if you installed IPv6 support, which screwed up one of my realtec based cards (the great one with two variants - one which worked with xp/2k/linux - and the one that didn't) - couldn't get it working again without formatting drives and reinstalling xp from scratch.

[Gordy]

I hadnt installed anything but winxp when the probs happened. I couldnt get it on the network at all to patch windoze

[Jiff Lemon]

Has the laptop got a book from network option? The long shot is that if you've a DHCP server, your laptop should report it's mac to the DHCP when obtaining a DHCP lease.

Would help work out wether its an install gone wrong or hardware problem.

[Gordy]

It wasnt reporting its mac to the dhcp server so not getting a lease at all.