Notebook BIOS/security question.
 

Hey everyone! I would really appreciate any information and help on this one.

I'm quite computer literate (hardware and software), however, I will admit that some things about Notebooks (laptops) are somewhat new to me...
I purchased my HP Pavilion ZT3340 in November '04, and I'm not sure if this has been there or if this has to do with the BIOS upgrade I did recently...I noticed a few weeks ago, in my BIOS, a few features such as: Notebook Asset Tag and Notebook Ownership Tag.

Can anyone help me out with more details than the fact they have something to do with identifying and/or locating my laptop should it ever be stolen or lost? I've searched and searched online (even on Hp.com) and I can find little or no in depth/detailed information as to:

• Will they appear anywhere other than my BIOS?
• Can they be seen by only me or viewed by anyone who gets ahold of my laptop?
• Are they permanent, or can they be changed randomly?
• Is there a site that I can enter the information at or a place I can register the tags, to where they can be tracked should I ever be unfortunate enough to lose my laptop or have it stolen?
• What is the difference between the two?
• What is the information I should place in each or either of them?

Thank you for any and all information you can provide. :)

Do you know who makes the BIOS for those notebooks?

Release Date: 2004-10-01 Version: F.51

Description

This SoftPaq creates files that contain the HPQFlash utility and a binary image of the System ROM for notebook models with a 68BAL Family ROM. The HPQFlash utility is used to locally flash the System ROM on PCs through a Windows environment. The ROM Family and ROM date can be determined by running the Setup Utility and pressing F10 on the target computer during system Power On, and then viewing File/System Information.

PURPOSE: Recommended

OPERATING SYSTEM(S):
Microsoft Windows 2000
Microsoft Windows XP 32-bit Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP 32-bit Professional



Fixes

- Fixes issue where the system did not boot from a Samsung 32MB USB Flash Drive.



Enhancements

- Uses the updated Intel Centrino logo.
- Modifies BIOS code to recognize the new 1.4-GHz Intel Pentium M Processor during Power-On Self-Test (POST).







Step 2: Does your system meet the following?



Operating system(s): Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000

Download file size: 971.65k




I apologize, late for work...this is the info I have..if it's not here I will find and post it when I return from work.

I think what hrdware is asking is, who makes the bios?

as in, phoenix, ami, award, etc ...

I may be off base, but from my experience that information is usually used internally by corporations for asset management and tracking. The values can be assigned by IT staff to differentiate between cloned systems that use similar/identical software identifiers.

that is one of the uses, its an easy way to get the SN from a system remotely, i can grab a systems SN remtely in about 30 sec. much quicker than walking across campus. its not just for cloned systems, usualy when you clone a system fror distrubution, you run a utility that strips the SIDS so it will recreate new random ones when each of the close are booted, removing the duplicates. more over it is a good way to track it, but note, i think it can be changed, (fairly easily) so dont count on it being the best way to get it back.

Thank you for the help. It's available to me...I'm not sure why...or if I can even use it...

Sorry about not being clear in my former post...
I was late for work and speedread the original question, hence why I misread it.