Track Stolen Laptop via IP/Computer Name at work?

[litsz02]

A laptop was stolen about a month ago at work - had to be a co worker because its on a secure floor...I had to file a police report etc.

Anyway, Just to check i thought I would see if pinging the computer would help...if it was still around on the LAN. I wrote a small .bat program i would click on periodically, and everytime, it would come up no reply.

HOWEVER, today, I ran it and it is back online. the IP can be pinged and the computer name is active on our network.

Is there ANYWAY we can find out where this laptop is located at? Thanks!!

 

[jimbopalmer]

Some thoughts:

Angry IP Scanner

http://www.angryziber.com/ipscan/

can show MAC address, ping time, user name, group name, computer name, DNS name, if any of that helps

Pinging the laptop will make the blinky lights on the switches blink, but durring the day you will have WAY too many blinks.

If they are managed switches you can often find what port a MAC address is on.

If your network uses DCHP, an IP address may be re-used by an innocent co-worker.

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[avilov]

If you know MAC address of the laptop and you are, you can often trace it to the port on the switch where it's connected. Talk to your trusty network guy and they should be able to help you with a trace