Re: My computer running xp thinks its a MAC

From: cquirke (MVP Win9x) (cquirkenews_at_nospam.mvps.org)
Date: 09/05/04 

Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 11:05:26 +0200

On Sat, 4 Sep 2004 10:02:03 -0400, "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

>Dealing with Unwanted Malware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines:

>http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

>Enable your firewall and make sure you're using good, current-generation
>antivirus software, that you keep updated regularly - and run Windows Update
>regularly for critical patches.

Always good advice, thus always on-topic ;-)

>djack11854 wrote:

>> Everytime I try to update my windows xp home edition it
>> takes me to a Mac site. IT is like my computer thinks its
>> a MAC? What is going on?> I get the same message
>> everytime about me using a MAC>

MAC is also a TLA (Three Letter Acronym) that refers to the
machine-level address of your network adapter, which is supposed to be
globally unique. The TCP/IP protocol we use on the Internet doesn't
generally use MAC addresses, but some other network protocols (Novell
IPX comes to mind?) might.

Anything that lists different network adapters - say, one or more LAN
cards, Firewire, DUN etc. - may list the MAC as a way of identifying
the Ethernet LAN cards, so you know which is which.

In case you were wondering; PCs can have more than one LAN card, each
set to use different network identity and thus apply different
firewall settings, etc. For example, LAN1 may have no firewall,
connect to your own LAN, and run File and Print Sharing (F&PS), while
LAN2 may have firewall on, no F&PS and connect to broadband.

Context?

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Relevant Pages

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