missing laptop

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Rogier

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Message 26754 - Posted: 14 Sep 2006, 13:06:43 UTC

Last night at 14 september at 00:01 UTC I discovered that my laptop is missing since september the 13th 19:45 UTC.

I have no serial number or any other information about my laptop other than that it's brand.

5 minutes ago I have read on a site that laptops are sometimes found through sites like these.
I would like to know how that is done.

Does the computer name also tell it's MAC-address?
If my computer name is acer-684c9a655d is my MAC-address 68:4c:9a:65:5d?
and how useful is that information?

Is it possible to get any information about my computer through this site?

I'm so terrified that I've lost my laptop with all my schoolwork and so much more on it :(.

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Profile dcdc

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Message 26758 - Posted: 14 Sep 2006, 14:36:14 UTC

Hi Rogier

I guess if someone connects it to the internet and Rosetta uploads then you'll be able to see the IP address it connected from through the 'my computers' page which might give you a lead - you'll be able to find the ISP and then contact them or let the police do that.

If they format the HD, don't connect to the internet or shut BOINC then I think you'll be out of luck unfortunately.
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Mats Petersson

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Message 26759 - Posted: 14 Sep 2006, 14:58:44 UTC

I don't _THINK_ that is your mac-address, as all lists I've found do NOT recognise a MAC address with 68:4C as the starting numbers.

I could be wrong tho'. If I am, your MAC address in full would be 00-68-4C..., as the MAC address is 48 bits, so six groups of 8 bits each..

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Profile Eric Ogletree

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Message 26763 - Posted: 14 Sep 2006, 16:13:38 UTC

Well, it's been a while since dealing with a networking device, so I could be wrong about a few facts here.

My understanding here, is that it may depend on how old your laptop is. If it's an older model (not sure how old it has to be, though). On most (if not all) laptops, the network adapter would be built onto the mother board. On older laptops, you'd have to buy it as a separate card.

I'm assuming that your laptop is a newer one, but if it isn't (or, if some insaine reason, it never came with one origionaly), then you'd be pretty screwed (to put it lightly) if the "thief" is half intelligent.

Don't know a huge amount about how the control bits are like in the TCP/IP, though. I'm not entirely sure if the MAC address is included in it or not. But maybe somebody else would know...? @:^)

Hope that helps you out somewhat...
There are 10 types of people in the world:
Those who understand binary, and those who don't.
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BennyRop

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Message 26767 - Posted: 14 Sep 2006, 17:46:45 UTC - in response to Message 26754.  

Last night at 14 september at 00:01 UTC I discovered that my laptop is missing since september the 13th 19:45 UTC.

Does the computer name also tell it's MAC-address?
If my computer name is acer-684c9a655d is my MAC-address 68:4c:9a:65:5d?
and how useful is that information?

Is it possible to get any information about my computer through this site?


What model of Acer laptop did you have? While it's possible that the bit after the "acer" are the 10 non zero digits of your mac address, my computer name is fairly long. Boinc shortened it to part of the first word and tacked on a string of 6 random digits and letters. (p, g, and n are not valid as Hex, so isn't part of a Mac address.)

What does the Rosetta view page say about your IP#? What was your internet connection - dialup or broadband? I've hard coded my ip# on this machine, so the internal network ip# is listed as 192.168.1.99 with 1750 contacts to Rosetta with the same ip#. It also lists the external ip# that my router is picking up from the ISP. If the number changes, then you can contact the ISP that owns the new ip# and get information on whose house that connection came from. (You may need the police to present a warrant to get that information from that ISP, however.)

If your email client pops up automatically and checks for new email, you should contact your email server's admins and get the times and ip#s of the last contact to your email account.

The people that stole one of my client's laptops got caught, but not before they'd reformatted the system and turned it into their personal gaming/music download machine. Recovering some of the critical data for my client was tough; but I managed to get most of it. And while attempting to recover the data, the client found other sources for the most critical of the data.

I wish you better luck.
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Rogier

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Message 26811 - Posted: 15 Sep 2006, 10:40:20 UTC
Last modified: 15 Sep 2006, 10:43:26 UTC

Thanks for all the help guys, but I have found my laptop back.
I thought it was stolen but it turned out I left it at campus security.
I put my laptop on the counter to reach for the campus keys of my book and board game club hahahahaha ^_^;;;; *I am so embarrassed*

The worst thing was that they hadnt noticed it either until hours later when I gave a description of my laptop while it was right under our noses.
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Mats Petersson

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Message 26812 - Posted: 15 Sep 2006, 10:46:18 UTC

Well, that's a happy end to that story then... Congratulations.

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Profile dcdc

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Message 26847 - Posted: 15 Sep 2006, 18:21:56 UTC

P.S. Maybe you should back up your work now you can!
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FluffyChicken
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Message 26852 - Posted: 15 Sep 2006, 18:52:47 UTC

Take a photo, and get the serial numbers etc... (and a photo of them to :-)

Team mauisun.org
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Profile Eric Ogletree

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Message 27142 - Posted: 17 Sep 2006, 16:58:59 UTC - in response to Message 26811.  

Thanks for all the help guys, but I have found my laptop back.
I thought it was stolen but it turned out I left it at campus security.
I put my laptop on the counter to reach for the campus keys of my book and board game club hahahahaha ^_^;;;; *I am so embarrassed*

The worst thing was that they hadnt noticed it either until hours later when I gave a description of my laptop while it was right under our noses.


That being the case, then BIG PARTY AT YOUR HOUSE!!! As long as the laptop was recovered without a huge issue, there's no need to be embarrassed... Besides, I work at a gas station during the grave yard shift. I've seen stuff more embarrasing (and definately more interesting) than that.
There are 10 types of people in the world:
Those who understand binary, and those who don't.
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Message boards : Cafe Rosetta : missing laptop



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