any way to check if a computer is "hot"? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hogweed · #1 12-06-2007, 07:44 AM

is there any way to check a serial number to see if a notebook computer is stolen or not? i don't want it if it's stolen but i'm not sure how to find out so any help wouild be appreciated.
thanks
gregg

aklim · #2 12-06-2007, 08:18 AM

I would call say Sony, HP, etc, etc and ask them who it was previously registered to and go from there.

TX76513 · #3 12-06-2007, 08:19 AM

Just go to the stolen computer registry.

http://www.stolencomputers.org/home.html

Hogweed · #4 12-06-2007, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Just go to the stolen computer registry.

http://www.stolencomputers.org/home.html

thank you.

aklim · #5 12-06-2007, 08:53 AM

Here is what I heard from the IT department of a place where I used to work. Someone bought a router or some other 3 com electronic gizmo off another guy on Ebay or someplace. They couldn't get it to work. When they called the company, they were told that it was specifically configured for that company it was sold to. Long story short, they found the employee that was supplementing his income selling company stuff. Nobody knew it was missing. Hence, I suggest checking registration.

kerry · #6 12-06-2007, 09:32 AM

There's even a way to trace down a stolen computer when it logs onto the internet. City Attorney in Denver was caught with a stolen city laptop that way. He claimed to have purchased it from someone. Turned into a very ugly situation when he committed suicide from the shame.

Hogweed · #7 12-06-2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

There's even a way to trace down a stolen computer when it logs onto the internet.

that is what i thought; but didn't want to find out the hard way after i received it.

aklim · #8 12-06-2007, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

City Attorney in Denver was caught with a stolen city laptop that way. He claimed to have purchased it from someone. Turned into a very ugly situation when he committed suicide from the shame.

Good. Saves us a few bucks in tax money to prosecute and jail him.

Dee8go · #9 12-06-2007, 10:02 AM

I was going to say, I believe every computer has a specific IP address on the Internet that is unique to that machine. I guess there are ways to circumvent almost any measures like that, but thieves don't usually go to that much trouble.

aklim · #10 12-06-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

I was going to say, I believe every computer has a specific IP address on the Internet that is unique to that machine. I guess there are ways to circumvent almost any measures like that, but thieves don't usually go to that much trouble.

Are you thinking of MAC?

Dee8go · #11 12-06-2007, 10:05 AM

MAC? No, I was thinking of all computers. At least that's my understanding of how it works. I don't know much about things like that, but lack of knowledge hasn't kept me from spouting off opinions yet . . .

aklim · #12 12-06-2007, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

MAC? No, I was thinking of all computers. At least that's my understanding of how it works. I don't know much about things like that, but lack of knowledge hasn't kept me from spouting off opinions yet . . .

Media Access Control Address. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_address