Thanks for all the input.

Here's the reason: I need to perform hardware inventory on several hundred desktop PCs. Our chosen program, TrackIt, requires the MAC address to be stored within AUTOEXEC.BAT in decimal format. Very unorthodox but a requirement which I have to meet nevertheless (we confirmed this with a call to tech support).

In the words of the famous pastry princess, "Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope!"

I eagerly await a solution.