NFC Module Not Functioning

[Jay_R]

I have a Zbook 17 G5 that originally came without an NFC reader. We recently switched to NFC capable token authentication and I wanted to add this functionality to the machine.

I contacted HP parts and provided my laptop serial number, and they confirmed the following part numbers applied:

L02249-001 NFC Module

L30662-001 NFC Antenna

L28473-001 Cable Kit

I ordered the parts and installed them today, however the NFC reader does not appear in Device Manager (nor does it appear as any sort of "unknown" device). Additionally, there is no option to enable/disable NFC in the BIOS under Advanced --> Built-In Device Options. HP's "BIOS simulator" document indicates that an option should exist there.

I am left to conclude that one or more of the ordered parts is defective/DOA. Before I contact HP regarding return, I wanted to ask here if anyone knows of an additional BIOS setting or other configuration option that must be set for NFC to work.

Any help is appreciated.

[TryToDoMybest]

Hello

when you have an NFC reader installed , in the zbook or elitebook , in the factory, in BIOS setup you have NFC option liested, so you can enable or disable it.

In your case you can try to:

1. save you current BIOS setting (inside BIOS there is a way to save it to an USB key)
2. Apply Factory default
3. save and restart

it could be tha at next reboot you may find NFC device

other reason for which NFC is not seen by PC

1.  it's a DOA (as you already wrote)
2. HP motherboard has a parameter called FeaturesByte.  This is set in the factory and as far as I know can't be changed. it might be that NFC on/off could depend on this FeaturesByte. in this case you will never be able to add an NFC inisde your zbook.   How many zbook do you need to modify ?

bye

[Jay_R]

Hi, thanks for the suggestions. I am only trying to modify this single laptop at this time.

I did try updating the BIOS to the latest version and then resetting options to Factory Defaults. I then re-configured the BIOS options but the reader still did not appear in the OS.

In the system BIOS there is no option to enable / disable NFC. There are options for the fingerprint reader and camera, but the NFC toggle is conspicuously missing (even though it appears in the HP "BIOS simulator" document).

I see the "Features Byte" in the system information, but of course I don't know what the contents mean. There is not an option in the BIOS to modify it, but if it controls basic BIOS functions I'd imagine there's some way to change it. Do you (or anyone else) know if this is specifically the reason the device may not work? Can this setting be modified by an HP technician?

[Jay_R]

After searching this forum and elsewhere on the internet, I still don't have a solid answer to these questions:

1. Does the "Feature Byte" data prevent the newly installed NFC hardware from working?

2. If the answer to 1 is "yes," can HP themselves modify this data to turn on the NFC reader?

This machine is covered by a service contract, so I can have an HP tech look at it if needed, however if the answer to 2 is "no," then I am going to return the parts I bought, since the HP parts rep indicated that they worked with my model and was obviously mistaken.

If anyone here has a definitive answer to these, I'd appreciate it.