ProdID and S/N gone after Bios reflash after windows updatewrong bios flash

[McJanDK77]

Hi everyone... My PC died after windows update. I assume it was a firmware update. I soldered the bios chip out and flashed it manually with the latest bios from HP's website. But now the S/N and ProdID information is missing... Is it possible to program them in some other way again? Thanks in advance

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @McJanDK77,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

I’m really sorry to hear that your PC became unresponsive after the Windows/firmware update. Situations like this can be very difficult, especially after doing everything possible on your end to recover it.

Regarding the missing Serial Number (S/N), Product Number (PN), SKU, or other system-identity fields after manually flashing the BIOS:

How HP System Branding Works

On HP systems, the serial number, product ID, SKU, and other “tattooed” system information are stored in a protected area of the BIOS.
When the BIOS chip is manually re-flashed with a generic image:

• All platform branding is erased
• The system loses its identity strings
• Diagnostics and HP software may report “Product Information Not Valid”
• Warranty validation cannot be performed

These values cannot be restored through normal BIOS menus or HP software.

Can you program the S/N or Product ID yourself?

Unfortunately, no.
HP does not provide public tools to rewrite system-identity fields.

The only utilities that can re-tattoo the BIOS:

• HP DMI / Branding Tools
• HP Configuration Restore Utility
• HP System Board Programming Tool (Factory Only)

These tools are not available to customers, and they require HP technician authentication.

The Only Solution

The only supported option is to have the system serviced by HP Authorized Support. A certified technician can:

• Verify ownership
• Reprogram the system board with the correct S/N, Product Number, GUID, etc.
• Restore full system identity
• Re-run HP factory configuration tools

If the BIOS chip was replaced or re-flashed manually, HP service may also need to revalidate the board, and this will be a charged support.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have an amazing day!
 

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Regards,

VikramTheGreat

[McJanDK77]

Thanks for the answer. I had a similar problem once with a Lenovo... Then Lenovo asked me for my serial number and product ID and what they needed. Then I got a bios sent to me by email that I could flash and everything was fine again as before. Why can't you do this? Because I won't send it in because you absolutely want to make money helping your customers! Especially when I know that a solution can be fixed, you get the information you need and I get a bios update file that has all this data and fixes the error I went after the windows firmware update sneaked in last time I made all the updates there were!