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From: lopez@uiucdcsm.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Is it my computer?
Message-ID: <8000012@uiucdcsm>
Date: Sun, 7-Jun-87 15:57:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcsm.8000012
Posted: Sun Jun  7 15:57:00 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 10-Jun-87 04:29:20 EDT
Lines: 29
Nf-ID: #N:uiucdcsm:8000012:000:1322
Nf-From: uiucdcsm.cs.uiuc.edu!lopez    Jun  7 14:57:00 1987


AT&T 6300 Computers.

Recently a problem arose concerning the true identification of an 
AT&T 6300 Computer. The problem with these machines is that their 
identification plates can be screwed off with a screw driver, and
according to the people I spoke to at AT&T there is no other way
to identify their machines. 

Thus what is to keep someone from buying a newer machine, and then
taking the plate off and swapping it with an older machine, or better
yet, what is to keep someone from buying a new machine and swapping
the ID and returning the old one as defective. Please don't feed me
that honesty bit, for I have met sooooooo many liars in this world that I really
don't want to hear it.

If anyone knows of a way to verify that a computer that someone delivered
is indeed the one that corresponds to its identification plate, I would
appreciate it if you would send me e-mail and tell me how to.  Of course
you can take down every serial number found on the internals, but how
about after the fact. How can AT&T determine that a computer is indeed the
same one as the identification plate says it is.

If there is no way, I can see many ways an individual could get screwed
by bad service people. (I am not suggesting that anyone in this world
is dishonest, I am just very curious)

F. Lopez
AT&T Bell Laboratories