HP Elite X2 1012 and a few corporate issues with imaging

[clicker666]

We purchased about 100 HP Elite x2 1012 units with Thunderbolt docks.  We're having a couple of small issues.  First - we image our machines and have found that we can't find a spot to change the serial number in the HP software to reflect the actual serial number of the unit.  As a result we are stuck using stickers on the machines themselves and hoping that our electronic inventory doesn't get out of sync.

Is there a way to change the serial number so that it appears correct in the HP Support Assistant software?

Second - when a user leaves and we reimage the machine for a new user we are stuck with the old user's name on the BIOS screen.  There is no obvious way to remove this - even removing the actual account from the machine doesn't do it, there is no obvious BIOS option, and the security software doesn't match what the BIOS is saying.  (The security software shows the two users in Windows, but not the three that are showing up in the BIOS).

Third - there doesn't appear to be a consistent method to have the user logon screen in the preboot environment show up on the external monitor when the unit is connected to the dock.  So, the users have to open the machine up to boot, turn it sideways to use their fingerprint to log in, then turn it back around and close it when safely in Windows.  For some of more clutter challenged users this is a major issue, and seems really quite cheap for such an expensive machine. There must be a way to do this.

[ChrisT]

Hi Clicker,

You have a lot of good questions!  I have a few clarifying points:

1.  What do you mean that the serial number doesn't match?  Where is the serial number on the unit?  I assume you have the x2 with a keyboard and the keyboard will have a different serial number from the tablet part.  The serial number in HP Support Asssistant will match the serial number on the tablet.
2. BIOS doesn't usually have users names in it.  Can you clarify what option is BIOS has the user's name?  Computer name?
3. Depending on how the unit is booting, the thunderbolt drivers may not be loaded so the monitors won't show the customer login until after Windows boots.  At what point do the users need to log in?  Is there a BIOS password?

Thanks,

[clicker666]

 What do you mean that the serial number doesn't match?  Where is the serial number on the unit?  I assume you have the x2 with a keyboard and the keyboard will have a different serial number from the tablet part.  The serial number in HP Support Asssistant will match the serial number on the tablet.

There is no serial number on the tablet itself, this is the problem from an inventory management standpoint.  The only serial number is on the actual box it came in.  There is a serial number in the OS that it shipped with, but once we imaged it we overwrote that software with the imaged machine - thus overwriting ALL the software.  So, all our tablets appear to the HP software as having the same serial number.

BIOS doesn't usually have users names in it.  Can you clarify what option is BIOS has the user's name?  Computer name?

When you use a boot password it creates entries on the boot screen for all the users on the machine.  It's supposed to be synced to Windows' users, but it doesn't remove the user from the boot screen when you delete them.  So, it's the white password prompt screen that occurs BEFORE booting into Windows - and before hitting F12, etc at BIOS time.

Depending on how the unit is booting, the thunderbolt drivers may not be loaded so the monitors won't show the customer login until after Windows boots.  At what point do the users need to log in?  Is there a BIOS password?

 Yes, there is a BIOS password or fingerprint.  It works usually on reboot - ie - the user doesn't need to open their tablet sideways and run their fingerprint in, then see if it was accepted, then close the tablet.  But when you cold start it you have to do that.  

[ChrisT]

Hello,

Which generation of the Elite x2 1012 are you using?

On most of our x2s the serial number is on the bottom edge of the tablet where the tablet connects to the keyboard.

I will try to reproduce your other issues with the demo units I have here.

[clicker666]

Nice!  I thought that was dirt lol.  (I wear reading glasses).

They are G1.  I don't have a newer one available at the moment, but my G1 has the issue with the extra user as well as one other spare unit.

[ChrisT]

Hi Clicker,

I'll need to dig my G1 out of storage.  Have you already called HP about the other two issues?  They may be able to help faster than I can.

[clicker666]

I couldn't get any help from HP, even our rep didn't answer after I asked him the same.

[clicker666]

OK - I figured out the BIOS username one.  The account still needs to exist BEFORE you can remove it.  So, if we have an employee that leaves, etc, we will have to not delete their account until we get their tablet.  After that you can go into the client security software and remove the user from the pre-boot screen, then delete them from the machine/corporate userlist.

[clicker666]

Actually, that didn't work.  I thought it did but the user was still in the preboot environment.

I tried recreating the user in local users.  You can then see the user in security manager, and can click remove.  I did that, then went back into local users and removed the user from there.  When I reboot the user is still in the preboot list.

[thisforumisdumb]

We thought we had the problem solved by uninstalling the HP Client Security Manager software and the HP Device Access Manager, which seemed, for the most part to get rid of all the names by selecting Don't Preserve the information when uninstalling the Security Manager.  However, this doesn't consistently work and I've now got notebooks with the network administrator, the local admin account, and three other user accounts in a big list on the BIOS screen.  Looks terrible, and it's really annoying that you can't remove these names.

We've tried also updating the BIOS, resetting security, wiping fingerprints, turned off fast boot and TBT Bios password, created a BIOS administrator account... nothing seems to work.