Transplanting the network chip on my motherboard

Englishlad

I have a very expensive software licence which is tied to the network chip on my Motherboard. I don't intend to renew my subscription because I can buy a second licence for a fraction more.

One day I'll probably want to use the software on a new machine. It's licenced to the MAC address, and having read over the licence agreement again, transplanting the chip doesn't violate the terms of the licence.

I suppose I'd have to find a network card that uses the same chip and switch the chips over. Probably a USB one that I'd connect internally. So for starters, does this sound like something that would even work?

Thanks

mmicrosysm · 09-22-2012, 14:59 | posts: 580 | Location: Box

Quote:

Originally Posted by Englishlad

I have a very expensive software licence which is tied to the network chip on my Motherboard. I don't intend to renew my subscription because I can buy a second licence for a fraction more.

One day I'll probably want to use the software on a new machine. It's licenced to the MAC address, and having read over the licence agreement again, transplanting the chip doesn't violate the terms of the licence.

I suppose I'd have to find a network card that uses the same chip and switch the chips over. Probably a USB one that I'd connect internally. So for starters, does this sound like something that would even work?

Thanks

Can't you just clone your MAC?

Englishlad · 09-22-2012, 15:17 | posts: 94 | Location: England

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmicrosysm

Can't you just clone your MAC?

Don't think so, and that would break the licence agreement anyway. This thread isn't about piracy ie: duplicating a MAC address to make software work on more than one machine.

sykozis · 09-24-2012, 23:49 | posts: 13,493 | Location: US East Coast

No, it's not something that would work. You'd need very detailed schematics of the motherboard and whatever network card you'd plan to transplant the necessary component(s) to. You would also need someone that's very experienced in electronics repair/assembly and is capable of making extract solders....

mmicrosysm · 09-25-2012, 00:07 | posts: 580 | Location: Box

Quote:

Originally Posted by Englishlad

Don't think so, and that would break the licence agreement anyway. This thread isn't about piracy ie: duplicating a MAC address to make software work on more than one machine.

?? Never implied Piracy! Sorry for trying to help

Englishlad · 09-25-2012, 18:36 | posts: 94 | Location: England

Quote:

Originally Posted by sykozis

You'd need very detailed schematics of the motherboard and whatever network card you'd plan to transplant the necessary component(s) to. You would also need someone that's very experienced in electronics repair/assembly and is capable of making extract solders....

I don't know why I'd need plans to swap a chip on a network card for a chip of the same model. Why do you think I would?

I have all the necessary skills and equipment at hand cheers. Shockingly, I had thought that far ahead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmicrosysm

?? Never implied Piracy!

But getting software - for which you have one licence - to work on two machines is piracy, isn't it? I think a court would see it that way. If I was to do that I may as well download a hooky copy and save the effort.

I'm gonna continue this on a electronics forum. This site seems to have more of a teenage consumer audience.

Enmity · 09-25-2012, 20:06 | posts: 1,091 | Location: New Zealand

I see nothing wrong with what you asked mmicrosysm, it was just a suggestion.

A simple "thank you for your help guys/suggestions" would have been all this thread needed.

sykozis and mmicrosysm gave their input and you threw it in their faces :S to me, thats the most teenage behaviour i've seen around here.

sykozis · 09-25-2012, 23:33 | posts: 13,493 | Location: US East Coast

I have experience with electronics repair and circuit design.... Quite frankly, anyone willing to attempt what he wants to do without proper schematics, lacks the proper knowledge as well....

mmicrosysm · 09-26-2012, 01:10 | posts: 580 | Location: Box

Quote:

Originally Posted by Englishlad

One day I'll probably want to use the software on a new machine. It's licenced to the MAC address, and having read over the licence agreement again, transplanting the chip doesn't violate the terms of the licence.

Right there you want to take it to another PC, so my suggestion is still valid! Never suggested using in on both PC's at the same nor did I say go screw that companies license and pirate the f___ out of it!

And how are you going to find the exact same chip and component setup on a newer PC down the line?? And if you do it might be a revision that consume less or more volts and you will fry your chip in the process and have nothing but a useless license tied to a dead chip!

By the way I have done successful chip swap outs. BGA, TSOP, PLCC, SOIC, PQFP. Even swapped out a failed North Bridge Chip for a client. The donor board was damaged so they wanted to make one working board. Plus at the time a replacement board would have cost them $300 vs my cost of $99 to do the swap.

Mufflore · 09-26-2012, 01:50 | posts: 9,536 | Location: UK

If he thinks using his MAC on another network adapter is piracy, then so is transplanting the ID to a new machine, no matter the method.
Makes no sense.

Op, as you think you know what you are doing why create this thread?
And why rubbish everyone thats trying to make sense of your incoherent post?

If you want help, can you explain the situation more fully, state your skill level, the equipment you have on tap, what you intend to do and the problems you need assistance with.

PinguX · 09-27-2012, 08:17 | posts: 794

The MAC address of the network card can easily be changed, its not illegal.

Alternatively, you could create a VM of your current pc and run that in vmplayer on your new pc.

thatguy91 · 09-27-2012, 08:34 | posts: 2,769 | Location: Australia

A new network chip should give you a new MAC address anyway...

scheherazade · 09-28-2012, 19:46 | posts: 1,923 | Location: NOVA

The single user license is allows a single instance of the software at any one time.

The MAC is not salient. MAC comparison is simply the method used to ensure only one running copy (Because MAC addresses repeat so infrequently, that they are as good as unique).

You could also use a single user license without checking the MAC at all, by simply connecting to a license server that verifies licenses.

But the MAC method doesn't require a license server and the extra admin issues associated with that.

Point being, the specifics of the DRM used are not relevant.
What is relevant is that you have a single license for a single instance.

If you need to update your new MAC address to continue using the software on a new system, then that's an administrative move on your part, not a licensing issue.

You only have a licensing issue if you try to run more than one instance of the software at any one time.

That said, there could be other strange terms in any given license.
In addition to running one instance, it could require that only one instance is installed (regardless of how many are running).
Some licenses, particularly OEM, try to include terms that preclude you from upgrading hardware - stating that changing your hardware [even upgrades] require you to buy a new copy (which is b.s. as it's out of their scope... but if you're anal, you can obey those terms...).

-scheherazade

Steppzor · 10-08-2012, 19:22 | posts: 17 | Location: Norway

On freebsd you can use these commands

$ifconfig em1 down
$ifconfig em1 ether xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
$ifconfig em1 up

deltatux · 10-08-2012, 21:09 | posts: 18,775 | Location: Toronto, Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steppzor

On freebsd you can use these commands

$ifconfig em1 down
$ifconfig em1 ether xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
$ifconfig em1 up

You can do the same for any operating system, MAC addresses can be overridden by the operating system as everyone has noted. If this is their only way to check for DRM, it's a really bad choice imo.

deltatux