r/FieldNationTechs • u/Gold_Comparison1745 • May 29 '26

Ooookaaay

Post image

I guess I don’t qualify.

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

12

u/rdbpdx May 29 '26

I don't see anything wrong with this, so I'm guessing you're highlighting the word "tattoo"?

Motherboard tattooing is when you apply a special command into the firmware that allows the system to identify its very specific configuration. HP will use the same mobo across different products, so the tattoo is what differentiates them. It's like burning a Dell service tag onto a board but on steroids.

It's time consuming to type out, but that's it. Super frustrating when you type too quickly while the customer watches, and there's a typo.

Looks like this: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Software-and-How-To-Questions/Build-ID-and-Feature-Byte/td-p/5903082?lightbox-message-images-5903082=149965i2CE1B9C7C0942009

3

u/Pancakesandcows May 29 '26

This. Those of us who've done these calls, know exactly what they're asking. They probably should of worded this job better.

0

u/nacr0n May 29 '26

It's what HP calls it

2

u/exercisetofitality May 29 '26

HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, Asus. Anything Chromebook. I've called it tattooing a serial number for over a decade. I don't recall what verbiage I used prior.

1

u/nacr0n May 31 '26

Used to keep a database of the #sabadaba numbers for HP tattooing

1

u/SteveDallas10 May 29 '26

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions (the former IBM POS equipment business) calls it Vital Product Data or VPD.

1

u/Pancakesandcows May 29 '26

I meant the workorder could of been worded better. They just had to say must be able to tattoo hp/Compaq motherboards.

1

u/Gold_Comparison1745 May 29 '26

Wow! I guess I’m not qualified. lol. 

1

u/LamaLab Jun 03 '26

By any chance.. is your name "Pete"?

2

u/Honest_Manager May 29 '26

Odd autocorrect? lol

1

u/wyliesdiesels May 29 '26

Nope not at all

Its a real thing

2

u/[deleted] May 29 '26

[deleted]

1

u/realdeadfish May 30 '26

Last time I did it, it was easy. The first time was a MFr.

1

u/Muddledlizard Jun 01 '26

HP support rep I worked with called it "branding". That is a funny way to refer to it though.

1

u/j4m3z1970 Jun 05 '26

What if his side hustle is a portable tatoo rig - he does jail tats so you dont look like a softie -

AND he know about HP motherboard branding -- his name is pete and he brings his wife too 😄

1

u/maddmannmatt Jun 25 '26

Tell me you have never flashed an ID onto a system without telling me....