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    How does Lojack work?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by JaggedOne, Jan 30, 2008.

  1. JaggedOne

    JaggedOne Notebook Enthusiast

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    I recently ordered an XPS M1530 that came with free lojack. I am going to dual boot vista and ubuntu linux. I know there is no linux lojack software. If I install in in windows, and the thief boots linux will it still work?

    If the thief formats my hard drive, and re installs windows/linux, will it still work?
     
    JaggedOne, Jan 30, 2008
    #1
  2. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    No and no.
     
    Lithus, Jan 30, 2008
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  3. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    If the thief formats my hard drive, and re installs windows/linux, will it still work?

    Actually...if they install Windows, yes.

    Regarding booting to Linux: I'm not 100% sure, but it might still work if it is in the BIOS (many laptops support it).
     
    Greg, Jan 30, 2008
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  4. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    Is that only on the Dells? I heard something about integrating it into the BIOS, or places like that, but I know that with most other computers, if the thief formats the computer, Lojack is gone.
     
    Lithus, Jan 30, 2008
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  5. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    It is in the bios of my laptop...Once its enabled, its permanent and can't be disabled by anyone, even you.
     
    nizzy1115, Jan 30, 2008
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  6. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    I guess that's safer, in a paranoid "big brother"-ish kind of way.
     
    Lithus, Jan 30, 2008
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  7. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Greg, Jan 30, 2008
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  8. JaggedOne

    JaggedOne Notebook Enthusiast

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    This is what I was hoping for. That means (if my laptop supports this), once I install it, no matter which OS I boot or how many times I format, lojack will work?
     
    JaggedOne, Jan 30, 2008
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  9. adinu

    adinu I pwn teh n00bs.

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    Well lojack needs an internet connection to be useful. So if the person that has your laptop doesn't go online, then lojack will be useless.
     
    adinu, Jan 30, 2008
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  10. JaggedOne

    JaggedOne Notebook Enthusiast

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    That I knew. But seriously who doesn't take a laptop online?
     
    JaggedOne, Jan 30, 2008
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  11. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    A thief who is selling your laptop on eBay.
     
    Lithus, Jan 30, 2008
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  12. JaggedOne

    JaggedOne Notebook Enthusiast

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    When the buyer gets it, he will go online.
     
    JaggedOne, Jan 30, 2008
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  13. adinu

    adinu I pwn teh n00bs.

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    Yeah, a smart thief will not be going online after they stole it. And yes, whoever buys it will go online, but by then the thief is long gone. So the new buyer gets screwed while the thief has his money and is safe.
     
    adinu, Jan 30, 2008
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  14. Dragonpet

    Dragonpet Notebook Evangelist

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    But that's not the purpose of lojack, as long as it works you get to get your laptop back. If the person who lost the notebook is nice enough, they can make a deal with the buyer or something, who knows. :D
     
    Dragonpet, Jan 30, 2008
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  15. adinu

    adinu I pwn teh n00bs.

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    They can always part it out and sell it that way, so in that case you never see your notebook.
     
    adinu, Jan 30, 2008
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  16. JaggedOne

    JaggedOne Notebook Enthusiast

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    Obviously Lojack is not perfect. But remember thieves are not the smartest bunch in the first place.
     
    JaggedOne, Jan 30, 2008
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  17. jack53

    jack53 Dell XPS 9360 i7 Lover!

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    Who doesn't go online anymore... eventually they will go online, crook or buyer.

    Anybody here ever actually use Lojack and get their notebook back?
     
    jack53, Mar 5, 2008
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  18. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    Ive heard zero success stories so far but im sure the website and ad's says differently..

    Also you have to deal with police to retrieve stolen property.

    Unless theres a gang of theives that specialise in stealing laptops, they probably wont know about LoJack
     
    flipfire, Mar 6, 2008
    #18
  19. hydra

    hydra Breaks Laptops

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    ..and you pay your fees for activation and don't let it expire. I would like to see a flat rate of $150 IF they recover your notebook?
     
    hydra, Mar 6, 2008
    #19