Hello guys.. can u help me on this one...

How does the pc read the unique product code or serial
number of the hardware? :confused:

please reply ^_^

For example.. u have a new mouse.. the pc then detects the new hardware so it may be operational... my question is.. how do the pc read it >_< it's bugging me hehe.. help please ^_^

My understanding is that during the early stages of startup the BIOS POST "polls the hardware".
In other words, this BIOS program goes around [among other things] reading the contents of ROM chips [built into the hardware] where is recorded information that uniquely identifies the hardware.

Basically,

It is the Operating system. All of the peripherals have enough technology in them to communicate with the PC and announce their presence. The OS then knows to ask for or install any drivers required.

the pc then detects the new hardware so it may be operational... my question is.. how do the pc read it
The Plug and Play Magager in the kernel enumerates all hardware devices, organises the devices into a tree and reads the Plug and Play ID code from each Plug and Play device (some legacy devices may also be included). That code (stored on the mouse or other hardware's firmware chip) is read in the same way that code is read from any other "storage device".

The Plug and Play ID code is short. Two bytes for the Vendor and Two bytes for the product id. A fallback Compatible Id is also made available for most types of hardware.

These ids allow the system to find all correctly stored instances of .inf files for that class of hardware stored on the hard drive. Each instance is given a "weighting value" depending on its degree of compatibility. The manager selects the most appropriate of such installed drivers - if it can.

This process occurs during the initial setup and at each reboot. The enumeration and tree are also updated if hot swappable devices are added/removed while the pc is in use and when a pc is awoken from a sleeping state.

The Plug and Play ID code is short. Two bytes for the Vendor and Two bytes for the product id. A fallback Compatible Id is also made available for most types of hardware.

Thanx for all of your posts guys... But How do you read that (Two bytes for the Vendor and Two bytes for the product id)? I need to read it as a string ... ... Please reply thanx :) :p

Under WinXP open System Information from its Tools Shortcut or:-
run C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo\msinfo32.exe

Find the relevant component under components and highlight "PNP Device ID" in the Right Pane. You can choose Copy from the Edit Menu and paste the string into notepad or similar if the whole string is not visible.

Example of a Modem:-
Name= Creative Modem Blaster V.92 PCI DI5791
PNP Device ID= PCI\VEN_125D&DEV_2898&SUBSYS_1063148D&REV_03\3&61AAA01&0&60

Two byte Vendors hex code = 125D
Two byte Product hex code = 2898

Under WinXP open System Information from its Tools Shortcut or:-
run C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo\msinfo32.exe

Find the relevant component under components and highlight "PNP Device ID" in the Right Pane. You can choose Copy from the Edit Menu and paste the string into notepad or similar if the whole string is not visible.

Example of a Modem:-
Name= Creative Modem Blaster V.92 PCI DI5791
PNP Device ID= PCI\VEN_125D&DEV_2898&SUBSYS_1063148D&REV_03\3&61AAA01&0&60

Two byte Vendors hex code = 125D
Two byte Product hex code = 2898
wow thanx Paul...
ummm so... the Vendors hex code and/or(??) the Product hex code IS the unique product ID? :)