My system is missing a "System Serial Number"

0

No, it is not about the Windows serial key and/or activation.

After reading this question ( https://stackoverflow.com/q/21548747/1190388 ) about dmidecode and system serial numbers, I came across this article on Microsoft support pages. The article says that I can find my serial number using

wmic bios get serialnumber

or the VB script:

On Error Resume Next 
Dim strComputer
strComputer = InputBox("Enter the name of the computer:") 
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2") 
Set colSMBIOS = objWMIService.ExecQuery ("Select * from Win32_SystemEnclosure") 
For Each objSMBIOS in colSMBIOS
MsgBox strComputer & ": " & objSMBIOS.SerialNumber
Next

I tried doing so, but the result was a blank line.

C:\Users\hjpotter92>wmic bios get serialnumber
SerialNumber



C:\Users\hjpotter92>wmic csproduct get name
Name



C:\Users\hjpotter92>

So, is this expected behaviour? I executed the commands as Administrator.

hjpotter92

Posted 2014-02-04T10:05:49.523

Reputation: 588

1What make and model of machine is this? – zelanix – 2014-02-04T12:07:52.127

Is your computer a brand name? Most likely, the builder simply didn't assign the machine a serial number. – David Schwartz – 2014-02-04T12:36:21.530

@zelanix Assembled system. DX58SO motherboard. – hjpotter92 – 2014-02-04T12:41:29.147

@DavidSchwartz No, not a branded system. All parts were purchased separately and assembled at home – hjpotter92 – 2014-02-04T12:41:59.180

What is the model number and company name of your computer mother board? – Calculating Machine – 2014-02-04T13:08:22.147

Answers

2

If you built the system and you didn't assign it a serial number, then how could it have a system serial number?

David Schwartz

Posted 2014-02-04T10:05:49.523

Reputation: 58 310

When trying to solve a problem always look at the simplest things first – Joe Taylor – 2014-02-04T13:02:06.500

But I've another machine which boots into debian and dmidecode gives me the serial numbers for it. That machine was also assembled at home. – hjpotter92 – 2014-02-04T13:03:43.490

1@hjpotter92 The manufacturer of that motherboard likely configured it to give the motherboard serial number as a system serial number if it wasn't assigned one by the builder. But, obviously, that's not an actual system serial number. (There's already a place the mainboard serial number goes.) – David Schwartz – 2014-02-04T13:06:33.990

Asked: 2014-02-04T10:05:49.523

Viewed: 2 449 times

Active: 2014-02-04T13:08:22.147