Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => Mach4 General Discussion => Topic started by: Jacob_Blank on August 18, 2026, 11:59:05 AM
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Howdy,
I've had a couple of PCID changes on a computer. Same thing physically, no repairs or customization to the computer. I am trying to better understand:
1. What causes PCID changes/how Mach4 generates the PCID?
2. What can be done to keep a PCID stable?
On the first, I understand that some updates can cause the PCID to change. Has there been an identifiable pattern to that?
On the second, I should say that this is a Windows computer. It would be optimal to allow it to connect to internet so it can be networked, but is not essential. Would a different OS, such as some sort of Linux distro, be better by virtue of not having updates at all?
Thank you for your time, all readers and repliers.
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IIRC the PCID is based on the computer's network card(s) MAC address(es), so if you change/disable/enable network adapters (are you using something like an external Wifi/Ethernet adapter?) or have something on the computer to randomise the MAC address (I seem to remember Windows allows you do this somewhere within the settings!), the generate PCID will change.
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Hi,
Mach does not generate the PCID, that is entirely a Windows thing. Certainly Mach uses the PCID to confirm that the license is applied to one
specific PC, but Mach has no part in its generation or its changing.
Some Windows updates requiring the implementation of new features can cause the PCID to change.
The bottom line is that if the PC does not change then neither does the PCID.
My dual core Atom single board computer that runs my machine runs Windows7 Embedded(Standard) and has done since I bought it twelve years ago.
Its never been connected to the internet, and has never had an update of any description. Ergo the PCID has remained constant throughout the years I've had it.
If your PC is Windows10 then there will be no more updates and therefore I would expect that going forward you'll get less PCID changes.
Craig