Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.soyo (
More info?)
While Carlos may not have to worry about it now, by changing the network
card, he should be aware of the WPA - Windows Product Activation (not HAL,
the Hardware Abstraction Layer). Listed below are the 10 components that are
identified:
CPU serial number
CPU model number/type
Amount of RAM in the system
Graphics adapter hardware ID string
Hard drive hardware ID string
SCSI host hardware ID string (if present)
Integrated development environment controller hardware ID string
MAC address of your network adapter
CD-ROM drive hardware identification string
Whether the system is a dockable unit (e.g. a notebook) or not
Each of these is given a point value of 1, except for the MAC address, which
is 3. At each boot, these components are checked, and must add up to at
least 7 points (out of 11, 12 with SCSI). If the MAC is changed, he's down
to 8. Change the RAM amount, upgrade the CD or DVD, and/or install a hotter
video card - gotcha!
<j.burghdoff@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:1108231026.747061.284570@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> First what operating system are you using Carlos? How did you setup
> your connection? With a cable connection you could have possibly two
> different types of service. You could have a fixed IP or automaticly
> obtained IP. You should first call your internet provider and make sure
> your connection is setup properly. If the laptop was connected first
> the cable modem may have obtained the lan info from it and it just
> doesn't work when you switched it to the second computer.
>
> If you already have figured out it is a bad NIC on the motherboard you
> can do as Doug said and simply replace the NIC with a PCI network card.
> Also follow his instructions on disabiling the onboard NIC. You don't
> have to worry about WinXP, what Doug refered to as a high point value
> is WinXP HAL and thats to prevent you from using the same operating
> system on more then one computer. A single change in hardware will not
> affect HAL it only kicks in when it detects mass changes in hardware
> which would happen if you tried to just take the hard drive and put it
> in a new system that was completely different in terms of hardware. But
> you should know that if your using a router with your internet service
> and you get the low connectivity warning it just means its not setup
> correctly.
>