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Serial number not found (on boot)
HP Compaq laptop Windows Vista 32 bit
This computer had many problems including the 'Serial number not found' message on boot. I reset it back to factory condition and all is well apart from the continued message on boot about the missing serial number. The serial number is missing in the BIOS along with some other numbers which are particular to this Laptop but those are not reported on boot or at any other time as far as I can tell. The InsydeH2O BIOS can't be edited, except possibly with some BIOS editing software from somewhere out there. However I am not inclined to bother, as this message on boot is not particularly annoying, it's only a few words on one corner of the screen for a short time during boot. Additionally I'm aware that there are risks involved in editing the BIOS. If I leave it as it is Will it be a problem sometime in the future? |
#2
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Serial number not found (on boot)
123Jim wrote:
HP Compaq laptop Windows Vista 32 bit This computer had many problems including the 'Serial number not found' message on boot. I reset it back to factory condition and all is well apart from the continued message on boot about the missing serial number. The serial number is missing in the BIOS along with some other numbers which are particular to this Laptop but those are not reported on boot or at any other time as far as I can tell. The InsydeH2O BIOS can't be edited, except possibly with some BIOS editing software from somewhere out there. However I am not inclined to bother, as this message on boot is not particularly annoying, it's only a few words on one corner of the screen for a short time during boot. Additionally I'm aware that there are risks involved in editing the BIOS. If I leave it as it is Will it be a problem sometime in the future? That's not necessarily true. Not in the way you're thinking. http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Noteboo.../332699/page/2 "SERIAL NUMBER NOT FOUND ERROR ‎10-30-2010 04:13 AM This issue is only take 3 minutes to be done, so sad to read no free service from HP. No need to purchase new motherboard, you just need HP DMI tool to write serial and product number. I'm guessing the previous technician forgot to do it since PN and SN only can be altered by HP DMI tool. Only a nerd one (like me) that always checking everything after the notebook has been repaired" The thing is, the BIOS chip is actually split into a number of storage areas. Now, this is just my mental picture of it - this is not something you'll find on Wikipedia :-) Main BIOS code block --- Actually a miniature file system Gets updated when you flash the BIOS. DMI --- Segment can be updated, independent of others ESCD --- Segment can be updated, independent of others Microcode Cache --- Ditto Boot Block --- Updated by BIOS flash (for poorly written BIOS, that is). The boot block is supposed to be immutable, so as to guarantee it would always be possible to recover from a BIOS updating mishap. Sadly, seldom true. DMI has room for a few fields, and serial number is one of them. Originally, a tool called "DMI Explorer" from Intel might have been used for this. I think Asus Probe provides read-only access to DMI, so you can see how it's constructed. DMI is used partially for asset management. In Linux, this tools allows readout. http://linux.die.net/man/8/dmidecode And apparently, there is a Windows port of that tool. Download the bin archive. Extract the archive (I use 7ZIP). In SBIN folder, you want "dmidecode.exe". http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/dmidecode.htm http://superb-dca3.dl.sourceforge.ne...e-2.10-bin.zip In Command Prompt, cd to the folder holding dmidecode.exe and run it by typing "dmidecode". A bunch of text is output into the command prompt window. Next, run it again, only this time, redirect the output. dmidecode output.txt Using notepad, open the new output.txt file. In there, I can find stuff like this from my computer... Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC. Product Name: P5E Deluxe Version: Rev 1.xx Serial Number: MS1C... --- mine has an actual serial number, but it doesn't match the number on the cardboard box ??? Asset Tag: Asset-1234567890 --- there is much sliced baloney stored in the DMI... A big company, the IT department writes the asset tag here. I can tell this field was never programmed. So this isn't a heavyweight tech issue. The issue will be two-fold: 1) Is the "serial number" available in the existing documentation, or on a plate on the machine ? A good tech, would have dumped the DMI, before discarding the old hardware. Even if the twit pulled the BIOS chip and inserted it into your replacement motherboard, you'd get to keep the info. (Because it's stored inside the BIOS chip, and the BIOS chip could be pulled from its socket, and moved to the new mobo.) So to have a serial number (one that matches stuff already written to the hard drive perhaps), you'll need the actual serial number. Look for a plate, on the computer case. 2) Will Tech Support give you a copy of a tool suited to setting the serial number ? This will involve the tool reading out the entire DMI segment, changing the serial number field, and writing it back. Even if the update attempt fails (say, the segment is write protected), this will have no impact on the main BIOS code block, or on the boot block. It's because the areas in the BIOS, align with separate segments in the BIOS chip, that it is "reasonably safe" to reprogram a separate area in the chip. This is also why, if you program a BIOS chip, then make an archival copy after the machine has booted just once, the checksum of the BIOS image will have changed. Since some areas of the BIOS chip are non-volatile and others are volatile, the checksum cannot be trusted once the machine boots once. And every time you pull a DIMM or add a DIMM, the BIOS self-updates the appropriate structure in the appropriate asset management area. ******* So what I want you to do right now, is run "dmidecode", redirect the output, then look at the fields. If the serial number field is "1234567890", then it would mean the tech who worked on the system, didn't update it or make provision for your serial number. If the serial number is present and accounted for, then the issue could be something completely different, in which case, the tech did a good job ? If you're on an OS that needs permission for everything, then you would right click on "cmd.exe" and select Run As Administrator, to "elevate" the Command Prompt window. When dmidecode runs in that case, it will be running as administrator, which is typically necessary to access low level hardware (the DMI segment in this case). If dmidecode is not elevated, it may be refused access to the hardware, by your OS. Even Linux would do that. So if you're seeing something like "Error 5", that means you need to elevate the command like administrator was running it. In a Google search, look for "Run As Administrator". and how to "launch an elevated command prompt". ******* One other note. There are other ways to customize parts in a computer. For example, you can "tattoo a hard drive". I don't know what that means, but it's a way to validate a hard drive, in a pre-built computer. So there are other voodoo procedures out there. There were even a few computers, where you bought your hard drives from the computer maker, because "they were special". You know the drill. Somebody needs to make a buck :-) I'm hoping in this case, that your serial number error message, is just a DMI issue. HTH, Paul |
#3
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Serial number not found (on boot)
On 25/06/2013 15:11, Paul wrote:
123Jim wrote: HP Compaq laptop Windows Vista 32 bit This computer had many problems including the 'Serial number not found' message on boot. ...... ................................. So there are other voodoo procedures out there. There were even a few computers, where you bought your hard drives from the computer maker, because "they were special". You know the drill. Somebody needs to make a buck :-) I'm hoping in this case, that your serial number error message, is just a DMI issue. HTH, Paul Thanks for great info! I've found a program to edit the InsydeH2O BIOS he http://www.mediafire.com/download/0z...kw36/EzH2O.zip linked from he http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Welcome-...FI/ta-p/279868 They do make it sound risky! .. This laptop is working perfectly at the moment with all the latest windows updates so I am still reluctant to try to edit even the DMI area. When I received this laptop for repair the Vista OS was claiming to be 'not genuine Windows' with a message to that effect on the desktop. I wondered if that was something to do with the missing BIOS data, but seemingly Windows Vista, now restored from the recovery partition is not bothered about that. I'll consider it some more tomorrow as it is late here now. cheers! |
#4
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Serial number not found (on boot)
123Jim wrote:
On 25/06/2013 15:11, Paul wrote: 123Jim wrote: HP Compaq laptop Windows Vista 32 bit This computer had many problems including the 'Serial number not found' message on boot. ...... ................................ So there are other voodoo procedures out there. There were even a few computers, where you bought your hard drives from the computer maker, because "they were special". You know the drill. Somebody needs to make a buck :-) I'm hoping in this case, that your serial number error message, is just a DMI issue. HTH, Paul Thanks for great info! I've found a program to edit the InsydeH2O BIOS he http://www.mediafire.com/download/0z...kw36/EzH2O.zip linked from he http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Welcome-...FI/ta-p/279868 They do make it sound risky! .. This laptop is working perfectly at the moment with all the latest windows updates so I am still reluctant to try to edit even the DMI area. When I received this laptop for repair the Vista OS was claiming to be 'not genuine Windows' with a message to that effect on the desktop. I wondered if that was something to do with the missing BIOS data, but seemingly Windows Vista, now restored from the recovery partition is not bothered about that. I'll consider it some more tomorrow as it is late here now. cheers! You do *not* need to edit the BIOS! Let's draw the block diagram again, of the EEPROM contents. Main BIOS code block --- Lenovo EFI tool edits this == Dangerous DMI --- You need to edit this one... Safe. Does not affect booting. Cosmetic. ESCD Microcode Cache Boot Block You need to contact tech support, make sure they understand the symptoms. Tell them what work has been done on the unit, what purported repairs have been done, so they can understand that a cosmetic item near the end of the repair was not done right. Since the complaint is "serial number", I interpret this to mean the DMI needs to be edited. Not the main BIOS. The main BIOS code block, should not contain dynamic information. It should be static - every similar computer model, would have byte-for-byte same code values in the main block. Same with the boot block. It's the other segments, which are volatile, and users can mess with them. An easy way to fix this, for the tech, would have been to move the BIOS chip from the old motherboard, to the new motherboard, as this would keep the DMI fields of interest (like the serial number). And you can use dmidecode or similar, to at least look at the fields currently written into your DMI, to see if my theory has any substance or not. The thing is, the main code block is static, and should be the same from machine to machine (at the same rev level). That's why the main code block, can have a checksum number written near the end of it, and why the boot block code can read and check that checksum, on every boot up. The main code block will not run, if the checksum is bad. Yes, you can reconfigure the main BIOS code block, because as I indicated before, it's a miniature file system. You can remove .rom files from it, remove support for your NIC or other peripheral chips. Have a party for yourself. And maybe in the process... brick the machine. Good luck, Paul |
#5
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Serial number not found (on boot)
On 26/06/2013 03:34, Paul wrote:
123Jim wrote: On 25/06/2013 15:11, Paul wrote: 123Jim wrote: HP Compaq laptop Windows Vista 32 bit This computer had many problems including the 'Serial number not found' message on boot. ...... ................................ So there are other voodoo procedures out there. There were even a few computers, where you bought your hard drives from the computer maker, because "they were special". You know the drill. Somebody needs to make a buck :-) I'm hoping in this case, that your serial number error message, is just a DMI issue. HTH, Paul Thanks for great info! I've found a program to edit the InsydeH2O BIOS he http://www.mediafire.com/download/0z...kw36/EzH2O.zip linked from he http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Welcome-...FI/ta-p/279868 They do make it sound risky! .. This laptop is working perfectly at the moment with all the latest windows updates so I am still reluctant to try to edit even the DMI area. When I received this laptop for repair the Vista OS was claiming to be 'not genuine Windows' with a message to that effect on the desktop. I wondered if that was something to do with the missing BIOS data, but seemingly Windows Vista, now restored from the recovery partition is not bothered about that. I'll consider it some more tomorrow as it is late here now. cheers! You do *not* need to edit the BIOS! Let's draw the block diagram again, of the EEPROM contents. Main BIOS code block --- Lenovo EFI tool edits this == Dangerous DMI --- You need to edit this one... Safe. Does not affect booting. Cosmetic. ESCD Microcode Cache Boot Block You need to contact tech support, make sure they understand the symptoms. ....................................... ....... Yes I probably should but I'm more inclined to leave the laptop BIOS in it's current state. Here's what is reported by DMIDecode on the DMI section: Handle 0x0001, DMI type 1, 27 bytes System Information Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard Product Name: Not Specified Version: Rev 1 Serial Number: Not Specified UUID: Not Settable Wake-up Type: Power Switch SKU Number: Not Specified Family: 103C_5335KV Regarding updating the DMI data I found the comment linked below from another laptop tech who suggests that in their case they could not get the program from HP and in order to update DMI the BIOS needed to be re-flashed using a program extracted from a a bundle provided by Sony for the same BIOS: http://forums.mydigitallife.info/thr...CPQ-V3000-6000 I could probably safely use the software from InsydeH2O I linked to earlier, but I am not inclined to take even the smallest risk of messing up the BIOS in order to fix what seems only to be a cosmetic problem. cheers, Jim. |
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