What you're after is actually some sort of 'hardware fingerprint', not an 'serial number'. The problem with this approach is that it's not 100% reliable. Proof: Microsoft didn't manage to find a way to properly limit OEM software to any single computer, you can actually re-install a OEM license on a new computer after a while! Once you agree there can't be a perfect solution you may look at your options and try getting something that's good enough. For my applications I'm creating a fingerprint based on info returned by GetSystemInfo, GetVolumeInformation and (for the 'C:' partition) and a selection of registry keys from HKLM HARDWARE (lots of registry keys actually, everything but usb, keyboard and mouse stuff). I'm reading hardware information from the registry because a Windows application can't really access hardware directly (DOS-style approaches can't work), and because I don't have time to figure out ways to determine hardware-related information for many different devices. My approach has the following disadvantages: • Uses the partition serial number, as set up by Format.

An format would clearly change the fingerprint. • Uses information about the installed drivers.

Updating an driver might actually change the fingerprint! Moving a card from one PCI port to an other might change the fingerprint. None the less, even with all of this changing information taken into account, I get collisions: Something like 1/1000 computers! There are several factors at work here: • Big OEM build many computers using the same hardware.

They also clone HDD's in order to speed up software installation so different PC's might get the same partition serial number. • I'm building a very short hash from all that information, short enough so people can read it to me on the phone without too many mistakes.

This system works for me, but it will not work for you if you expect to re-identify computers once they're reinstalled. I had a similar problem back in the good old DOS days. I found out that the ROM of the installed hardware ie. Video card, disk controllers seriel ports etc. Defektologicheskoe predstavlenie na uchaschegosya obrazec zapolneniya. Was accessible directly, since they are memory-mapped. This means that I was able to create a list of installed hardware, and use it to generate a 'serial number', that uniquely identified each computer (until the hardware setup was changed).

I'm sure something similar is possible today as well. Check out, if you want to use this approach. Regards • Frank.

Sometimes abbreviated as Serial No., SN or S/N, a serial number is a unique number assigned to the PC by the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) used for identification and inventory purposes. A serial number allows the manufacturer to identify a product and get additional information about it, for replacement, or as a means of finding compatible parts. This tutorial will show you how to find the manufacturer serial number of hard drives (HHD and SSD) in Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10. CONTENTS: • To Find Serial Number of Hard Drive on Manufacturing Label • To Find Serial Number of Hard Drives in Command Prompt • To Find Serial Number of Hard Drives in PowerShell.

I wanted to get the serial number assigned by Hard disk manufacturer. The serial number is usually printed in the hard disk. Normally to get the serial number, I have to take out the hard disk. Is it possible to know the hard drive serial number from command prompt or in other way. Get Hard Drive Serial Number. HardDriveInfo.DLL is an ActiveX COM DLL to read or get hard disk information. You can use HardDriveInfo.DLL to read the real serial number of hard disk easily.