Windows Registration and Stolen Laptops

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,alt.os.windows-xp,comp.windows.misc,alt.law-enforcement,alt.private.investigator (More info?)

Hi, All:

Unfortunately, I've just had my laptop stolen, along with other items
burglarized. =(

I was wondering, though...they can't get with WinXP without the
password...so I suppose they'd do a reinstall...but since info is
passed along to Microsoft...would it be possible, theoretically anyway,
for MS to match up their records?

I mean, since WinXP Registration takes some kind of "snapshot" of the
machine...is it not possible to cross-ref identical snapshots? Of
course, I'm assuming these so-called snapshots are adequately unique
for purposes of cross-referencing where a stolen laptop's concerned....

Anyone know what I'm on about? I'm asking, in general, whether it's
possible to "trace" a stolen laptop, and specifically whether WinXP
Registration could be made to help recover one...I don't expect to ever
see my poor laptop again (I've got most of my work backed-up, at
least!), but I was curious....


TIA

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Ricky B. Gurley wrote:

> NYC XYZ wrote:
>
>>
>> Hi, All:
>>
>> Unfortunately, I've just had my laptop stolen, along with other items
>> burglarized. =(
>>
>> I was wondering, though...they can't get with WinXP without the
>> password...so I suppose they'd do a reinstall...but since info is
>> passed along to Microsoft...would it be possible, theoretically anyway,
>> for MS to match up their records?
>>
>> I mean, since WinXP Registration takes some kind of "snapshot" of the
>> machine...is it not possible to cross-ref identical snapshots? Of
>> course, I'm assuming these so-called snapshots are adequately unique
>> for purposes of cross-referencing where a stolen laptop's concerned....
>>
>> Anyone know what I'm on about? I'm asking, in general, whether it's
>> possible to "trace" a stolen laptop, and specifically whether WinXP
>> Registration could be made to help recover one...I don't expect to ever
>> see my poor laptop again (I've got most of my work backed-up, at
>> least!), but I was curious....
>>
>>
>> TIA
>
>
> If the person is installing Windows XP, it IS possible, however Kadaitcha
> Man is correct.. If MicrosSoft were to assist you in the laptop recovery
> by checking their records against the installation files or by showing you
> the records where Windows XP sends data aback and forth with Microsoft
> approximately once every two hours, they'd be admitting that they do track
> the computers that the Windows XP Operating System is on.

What they _could_ do is block the reactivation of that serial number.
Wouldn't make a difference unless the guy tried to reactivate it, then they
could refuse reactivation except by a phone call and have the call traced.
This used to be a pretty big hassle--might not be anymore though.

> But.. What if the person that stole yopur laptop installs a different
> Operating System?
>
> Ya know... It is possible with ALOT of work to find your laptop... I said
> possible meaning a longshot. Did you happen to write down your MAC
> Addresses to your internal components i.e. your ethernet card?

There are utilities that go in at a low enough level that one would pretty
much have to zero the disk to wipe them that "phone home" periodically for
the purpose of finding stolen laptops. No help in the current situation
but could be for the future.
>
>
>
> Rick.

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,alt.os.windows-xp,comp.windows.misc,alt.law-enforcement,alt.private.investigator (More info?)

In article <1107063339.782530.288010@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>, NYC
XYZ says...
>
> Hi, All:
>
> Unfortunately, I've just had my laptop stolen, along with other items
> burglarized. =(
>
> I was wondering, though...they can't get with WinXP without the
> password...so I suppose they'd do a reinstall...but since info is
> passed along to Microsoft...would it be possible, theoretically anyway,
> for MS to match up their records?
>
> I mean, since WinXP Registration takes some kind of "snapshot" of the
> machine...is it not possible to cross-ref identical snapshots? Of
> course, I'm assuming these so-called snapshots are adequately unique
> for purposes of cross-referencing where a stolen laptop's concerned....
>
> Anyone know what I'm on about? I'm asking, in general, whether it's
> possible to "trace" a stolen laptop, and specifically whether WinXP
> Registration could be made to help recover one...I don't expect to ever
> see my poor laptop again (I've got most of my work backed-up, at
> least!), but I was curious....
>
Windows XP registration cannot help you. Not only are you not required
to give them any details such as name/address but there is no useable
info sent to them.


--
Conor

An imperfect plan executed violently is far superior to a perfect plan.
-- George Patton

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,alt.os.windows-xp,comp.windows.misc,alt.law-enforcement,alt.private.investigator (More info?)

Your machine is gone. By a new MAC.
"NYC XYZ" <jack_foreigner@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1107063339.782530.288010@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Hi, All:
>
> Unfortunately, I've just had my laptop stolen, along with other items
> burglarized. =(
>
> I was wondering, though...they can't get with WinXP without the
> password...so I suppose they'd do a reinstall...but since info is
> passed along to Microsoft...would it be possible, theoretically anyway,
> for MS to match up their records?
>
> I mean, since WinXP Registration takes some kind of "snapshot" of the
> machine...is it not possible to cross-ref identical snapshots? Of
> course, I'm assuming these so-called snapshots are adequately unique
> for purposes of cross-referencing where a stolen laptop's concerned....
>
> Anyone know what I'm on about? I'm asking, in general, whether it's
> possible to "trace" a stolen laptop, and specifically whether WinXP
> Registration could be made to help recover one...I don't expect to ever
> see my poor laptop again (I've got most of my work backed-up, at
> least!), but I was curious....
>
>
> TIA
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"NYC XYZ" <jack_foreigner@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1107063339.782530.288010@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Hi, All:
>
> Unfortunately, I've just had my laptop stolen, along with other items
> burglarized. =(
>
> I was wondering, though...they can't get with WinXP without the
> password...

Yes you can. It is almost child's play to delete the Administrator (or any
other) password.

Ian.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,alt.os.windows-xp,comp.windows.misc,alt.law-enforcement,alt.private.investigator (More info?)

"NYC XYZ" <jack_foreigner@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1107186994.097238.13450@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Kadaitcha Man wrote:
> >
> >
> > <NONSENSE SNIPPED>
>
>
> The question was simply a theoretical one, whether such a thing were
> possible. You could have just wrote "not sure" or, most helpful of
all
> in your case, remained silent.
>

Well actually, maybe. But then again, only if. OTOH, quite possibly.
But, I wouldn't, if I were you. Hope this helps.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,alt.os.windows-xp,comp.windows.misc,alt.law-enforcement,alt.private.investigator (More info?)

"NYC XYZ" <jack_foreigner@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1107268603.188145.258000@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> If then.
>

If then?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,alt.os.windows-xp,comp.windows.misc,alt.law-enforcement,alt.private.investigator (More info?)

What?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,alt.os.windows-xp,comp.windows.misc,alt.law-enforcement,alt.private.investigator (More info?)

NYC XYZ wrote:
> What?

No one knows. You clipped everything.

--
The cost of living hasn't affected its popularity

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,alt.os.windows-xp,comp.windows.misc,alt.law-enforcement,alt.private.investigator (More info?)

"NYC XYZ" <jack_foreigner@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1107063339.782530.288010@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Hi, All:
>
> Unfortunately, I've just had my laptop stolen, along with other items
> burglarized. =(
>
> I was wondering, though...they can't get with WinXP without the
> password...so I suppose they'd do a reinstall...but since info is
> passed along to Microsoft...would it be possible, theoretically anyway,
> for MS to match up their records?
>
> I mean, since WinXP Registration takes some kind of "snapshot" of the
> machine...is it not possible to cross-ref identical snapshots? Of
> course, I'm assuming these so-called snapshots are adequately unique
> for purposes of cross-referencing where a stolen laptop's concerned....
>
> Anyone know what I'm on about? I'm asking, in general, whether it's
> possible to "trace" a stolen laptop, and specifically whether WinXP
> Registration could be made to help recover one...I don't expect to ever
> see my poor laptop again (I've got most of my work backed-up, at
> least!), but I was curious....
>
>
> TIA
>

There is a little program out there that will get them in,

a.. This is a utility to (re)set the password of any user that has a valid
(local) account on your NT system, by modifying the creped password in the
registries SAM file.
a.. You do not need to know the old password to set a new one.
a.. It works offline, that is, you have to shutdown your computer and boot
off a floppydisk or CD. The bootdisk includes stuff to access NTFS
partitions and scripts to glue the whole thing together.
a.. Works with syskey (no need to turn it off, but you can if you have lost
the key)
a.. Will detect and offer to unlock locked or disabled out user accounts!
a.. It is also an almost fully functional registry editor!

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,alt.os.windows-xp,comp.windows.misc,alt.law-enforcement,alt.private.investigator (More info?)

I think he's talking about a Big Mac at MacDonald's, like the opposite
of a Whopper at Burger King.

"infospy" <infospyREMOVE@charter.net> wrote in message
news:GlpNd.10205$rR6.9465@fe04.lga...
> What's a MAC?
>
>
>
> "Donduk" <fastcar101@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:Lq9Ld.3443$qJ3.1498@bignews1.bellsouth.net...
> > Your machine is gone. By a new MAC.
> > "NYC XYZ" <jack_foreigner@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > news:1107063339.782530.288010@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> > >
> > > Hi, All:
> > >
> > > Unfortunately, I've just had my laptop stolen, along with other
items
> > > burglarized. =(
> > >
> > > I was wondering, though...they can't get with WinXP without the
> > > password...so I suppose they'd do a reinstall...but since info is
> > > passed along to Microsoft...would it be possible, theoretically
anyway,
> > > for MS to match up their records?
> > >
> > > I mean, since WinXP Registration takes some kind of "snapshot" of
the
> > > machine...is it not possible to cross-ref identical snapshots? Of
> > > course, I'm assuming these so-called snapshots are adequately
unique
> > > for purposes of cross-referencing where a stolen laptop's
concerned....
> > >
> > > Anyone know what I'm on about? I'm asking, in general, whether
it's
> > > possible to "trace" a stolen laptop, and specifically whether
WinXP
> > > Registration could be made to help recover one...I don't expect to
ever
> > > see my poor laptop again (I've got most of my work backed-up, at
> > > least!), but I was curious....
> > >
> > >
> > > TIA
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,alt.os.windows-xp,comp.windows.misc,alt.law-enforcement,alt.private.investigator (More info?)

Send me the machine and return postage and I'll open it and change the pw.


<William P.N. Smith> wrote in message
news:f4cd01dkvr643rmp89ppbbcvvv73eb6c3n@4ax.com...
> "NYC XYZ" <jack_foreigner@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >I mean, since WinXP Registration takes some kind of "snapshot" of the
> >machine...is it not possible to cross-ref identical snapshots?
>
> It's not sufficiently unique, lots of room for identical 'signatures'.
>

Here there is a new solution for Mac, Windows, Linux, and else, absolutely free:
http://preyproject.com/?lang=en

Enjoy and spread Prey.

RQP