Symptoms


Hardware ID changes, even though no hardware or operating system has been changed or updated.



Possible Cause


The software generates a hardware ID by gathering information about the computer, including the first network adapter found. Switching network adapters on/off may cause a new and different hardware ID to be generated, causing a mismatch.



Possible Solution


A possible solution is to fix the order in which the network adapters are found on the machine. See how to do this below:


Change the access order of network devices:


Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter SettingsPress the [Alt] key to expose the Advance menu > Select Advanced Settings...

Use the arrows on the right of the dialog box to arrange the adapter in this order:




Note: Connected Bluetooth devices may also alter the order of the adapters, but will not be found within the scope of this settings control.