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First Posted 11 Apr 2006
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Generating a unique computer/user ID using C#

By Gratemyl | 11 Apr 2006
How to generate a unique computer/user ID, using C#, which can be used for user tracking, software licensing, etc.
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1.00/5 - 25 votes
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μ 1.09, σa 1.54 [?]

Demo project screen-shot

Introduction and Background

I recently had to create an application with a registration system which would be used by many users at the same time, each of them purchasing their own license.

The idea was the following: the user purchases a license key, which he/she then enters into the application (which could be downloaded freely). The application would contact a central server, which would return an activation request serial number. This would then be sent to the license reseller, who would generate an activation key, which would in turn be entered into the application by the user.

I needed some way of uniquely identifying each computer with ease, to ensure that no two users could use the same license key, yet each user could establish several connections to the server.

In this article, I will show you how I accomplished this task.

The actual code

I solved the problem by making use of the computer name, username, and user domain, the number of processors, and the number of logical drives which are installed on the computer. This way, even a multi-user system would require each user to register their own copy of the application, but no user could use the same license on more than one computer.

First, create a new Windows application, and add a button plus textbox to your form.

In the button1_click routine, add the following code:

textBox1.Text =  // Set the contents of textBox1 to:
    Environment.ProcessorCount + "/" +       //
    // {number of processors}/{machine name}/
    Environment.MachineName + "/" + 
    // {user domain}\{username}/
    Environment.UserDomainName + "\\" +
    // {number of logical drives}
    Environment.UserName + "/" + 
    Environment.GetLogicalDrives().Length;   //

The code should be fairly easy to understand.

Points of Interest

The disadvantage to this method is that the same conditions can be simulated, but with some difficulties. This method should not be used where expensive software is licensed - I used this for cheap licensing of small software.

This method still needs some enhancements to be ready for big software.

License

This article has no explicit license attached to it but may contain usage terms in the article text or the download files themselves. If in doubt please contact the author via the discussion board below.

A list of licenses authors might use can be found here

About the Author

Gratemyl



Netherlands Netherlands

Member


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GeneralUnique Id for my System PinmemberMamuly20:10 25 Jul '10  
GeneralSerial number is only suppose to be unique Pinmembermichaelnoam6:10 16 Jun '10  
GeneralMy vote of 1 Pinmemberknowge1:53 19 May '10  
AnswerMachineGUID PinmemberKurtz NatureBoy4:05 29 Apr '10  
GeneralAnother Simple and Reliable Alternative PinmemberWeifen Luo15:26 1 Mar '10  
GeneralUnique Machine ID PinmemberAnindya Chatterjee5:09 3 Mar '09  
AnswerMotherBoard Serial Number PinmemberMad Philosopher5:56 26 Jun '08  
GeneralRe: MotherBoard Serial Number PinmvpJohn Simmons / outlaw programmer2:32 17 Jul '08  
GeneralRe: MotherBoard Serial Number PinmemberChizI13:31 4 Nov '09  
GeneralNot really unique PinmemberRay Cassick17:24 11 Apr '06  
GeneralRe: Not really unique PinmemberFabrice Vergnenegre22:53 11 Apr '06  
GeneralRe: Not really unique PinmemberGratemyl3:08 12 Apr '06  
GeneralRe: Not really unique PinmemberFabrice Vergnenegre10:55 12 Apr '06  
GeneralRe: Not really unique PinmemberGratemyl13:29 12 Apr '06  
GeneralRe: Not really unique PinmemberBorv12:00 19 Oct '06  
GeneralRe: Not really unique PinmemberOneSoftware19:51 14 Apr '07  
GeneralRe: Not really unique PinmemberOneSoftware20:49 23 Apr '07  
GeneralRe: Not really unique PinmemberIbrahim Dwaikat4:57 8 Oct '08  
GeneralRe: Not really unique PinmemberGratemyl3:07 12 Apr '06  
GeneralRe: Not really unique PinmemberGratemyl3:09 12 Apr '06  
AnswerRe: Not really unique Pinmemberhk112:46 23 Aug '07  
Should have opted for easir yet robust mechanism...
 
Win32_ComputerSystemProduct.UUID ? This is unique Laugh | :laugh:
 
before c# there was darkness

GeneralRe: Not really unique PinmvpJohn Simmons / outlaw programmer2:34 17 Jul '08  
GeneralRemovable Drives PinmemberFelipe Amorim10:44 11 Apr '06  
GeneralRe: Removable Drives PinmemberGratemyl11:14 11 Apr '06  

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