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    No Lojack BIOS agent in DV2000

    Discussion in 'HP' started by brridge, Jul 24, 2006.

  1. brridge

    brridge Newbie

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    I verified with tech support (if they can be believed).

    There's no Lojack BIOS update included in the DV2000 series. HP has this in some of their laptops. What it does is allow the computer to be tracked via the internet in the event that it is stolen, and you have a subscription to Computrace's Lojack system.

    You can still install the Lojack software, which has a software agent, but the BIOS agent would work even if the hard drive is wiped and reinstalled.

    I think this is a great feature, as I'll be traveling alot with my dv2000, so I'm slightly disappointed, but it hasn't stopped me from buying it. I'm guessing they only have this in their business line, as those laptops travel more. bummer.

    If you are interested in more info:
    Info from HP:
    http://www.hp.com/sbso/security/hardware_theft.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN
    "HP now offers the Computrace agent embedded in the BIOS of new commercial notebook PCs and as a BIOS update for notebook PCs your business already owns. With the agent in place, you can contract monitoring services directly with Absolute Software or through your local preferred reseller".

    Ben
     
  2. brianstretch

    brianstretch Notebook Virtuoso

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    I can see where the privacy rights advocates would freak out over the thought of having this in consumer notebook BIOSes. (Never mind a little thing called a MAC address...) People went nuts when Intel tried to put a unique ID in the Pentium 3 CPU, even though workstation CPUs like SPARCs had been using them for years. I can think up all sorts of conspiracy theories as to how this could be abused... none of which can't already be done but I can see where HP's legal department would nix the idea of putting the Lojack BIOS code in all their systems.