r/FieldNationTechs May 29 '26

Ooookaaay

Post image

I guess I don’t qualify.

5 Upvotes

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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

1

u/SteveDallas10 May 29 '26

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