HP Elitebook BIOS Serial Number Change: Tips and Tricks
How to Change Serial Number in BIOS HP Elitebook
If you have replaced the system board of your HP Elitebook laptop, you may need to change the serial number in the BIOS to match the original one. This is important for software licensing and warranty purposes. Changing the serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook is not a difficult task, but it requires some steps and precautions. In this article, we will show you how to do it safely and easily.
change serial number in bios hp elitebook
What is BIOS and Serial Number?
BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. It is a firmware that controls the basic functions of your laptop, such as booting, hardware configuration, and security settings. BIOS is stored on a chip on the system board and can be accessed by pressing a specific key during startup.
Serial number is a unique identifier that is assigned to your laptop by the manufacturer. It is usually printed on a sticker on the bottom of your laptop or inside the battery compartment. You can also find it in the BIOS or by using a software tool. Serial number is used to register your laptop, check warranty status, and activate some software products.
Why Do You Need to Change Serial Number in BIOS HP Elitebook?
If you have replaced the system board of your HP Elitebook laptop, you may notice that the serial number in the BIOS does not match the one on the sticker or the original system board. This can cause some problems, such as:
Software activation failure: Some software products, such as Windows or Office, use serial number as part of their activation process. If the serial number in the BIOS does not match the one on the product key sticker, you may not be able to activate your software.
Warranty invalidation: If you need to contact HP support for any issue with your laptop, they may ask you for your serial number. If the serial number in the BIOS does not match the one on the sticker or the original system board, they may refuse to provide warranty service or charge you extra fees.
Security risk: If someone steals your laptop and tries to access your data or use it for illegal purposes, they may be able to change the serial number in the BIOS to avoid detection or identification.
To avoid these problems, you need to change the serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook to match the one on the sticker or the original system board.
How to Change Serial Number in BIOS HP Elitebook?
To change the serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook, you need to use a special utility provided by HP called VSUT (Vendor Specific Utility Tool). This utility allows you to modify some system IDs in the BIOS, such as serial number, product name, SKU number, etc. You can download VSUT from HP website or use a USB flash drive that contains VSUT provided by HP support.
Before you use VSUT, make sure you have backed up your data and created a recovery media in case something goes wrong. Also, make sure your laptop is connected to AC power and has enough battery charge. Do not interrupt the process or turn off your laptop until it is completed.
Here are the steps to change the serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook using VSUT:
Boot your laptop and enter BIOS setup by pressing ESC key and then F10 key.
Press Ctrl+A to open additional fields in Security > System IDs menu.
Note down your current serial number and other system IDs for reference.
Exit BIOS setup without saving changes and restart your laptop.
Open CMD as administrator by right-clicking on Start button and selecting Command Prompt (Admin).
Change directory to the folder that contains VSUT64.exe by typing cd followed by the folder path. For example, cd C:\Users\HP\Downloads\VSUT64.
Run VSUT64.exe -SMBIOS -Display to show your current system IDs.
Run VSUT64.exe -SMBIOS -SS= to set your new serial number. Replace with your desired serial number. For example, VSUT64.exe -SMBIOS -SS=5CD1234567.
You can also change other system IDs using similar commands. For example, VSUT64.exe -SMBIOS -PN=, VSUT64.exe -SMBIOS -SKU=, etc.
When you are done changing your system IDs, restart your laptop.
You will see a message asking you to confirm or reject the changes. Press Y to confirm or N to reject.
Your laptop will boot normally and your new serial number will be applied.
Congratulations! You have successfully changed the serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook. You can verify it by entering BIOS setup again or using a software tool.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained what is BIOS and serial number, why you need to change serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook, and how to do it using VSUT utility. We hope this article has been helpful for you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below.
What are the Benefits of Changing Serial Number in BIOS HP Elitebook?
Changing the serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook can have some benefits, such as:
Software activation success: By matching the serial number in the BIOS with the one on the product key sticker, you can activate your software products without any hassle.
Warranty validation: By matching the serial number in the BIOS with the one on the sticker or the original system board, you can prove that your laptop is genuine and eligible for warranty service.
Security enhancement: By changing the serial number in the BIOS to a unique one, you can prevent someone from using your laptop for illegal purposes or accessing your data.
Changing the serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook can also improve your laptop's performance and stability by updating the BIOS to the latest version.
What are the Risks of Changing Serial Number in BIOS HP Elitebook?
Changing the serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook is not without risks. Some of the possible risks are:
Data loss: If something goes wrong during the process of changing the serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook, you may lose your data or damage your laptop. That's why it is important to back up your data and create a recovery media before you start.
BIOS corruption: If you use an incorrect or incompatible utility to change the serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook, you may corrupt your BIOS and make your laptop unbootable. That's why it is important to use VSUT utility provided by HP or HP support.
Legal issues: If you change the serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook to a fake or stolen one, you may violate some laws or regulations. That's why it is important to use a valid and original serial number that belongs to your laptop.
To avoid these risks, you need to follow the instructions carefully and use caution when changing the serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained what is BIOS and serial number, why you need to change serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook, how to do it using VSUT utility, what are the benefits and risks of doing so, and how to optimize your article for SEO. We hope this article has been helpful for you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained what is BIOS and serial number, why you need to change serial number in BIOS HP Elitebook, how to do it using VSUT utility, what are the benefits and risks of doing so, and how to optimize your article for SEO. We hope this article has been helpful for you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. 4e3182286b