Tattoo

pilgrim · Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 2:48 pm Post subject: Tattoo

Hi,

I have a Packard Bell iMedia 1507 that apparently has a Tattoo incorporated in the BIOS.
I have been looking into the possibility of upgrading the motherboard/processor, if I do is it possible to get the Tattoo installed into the new BIOS, if so how?

Any answers appreciated, thanks.

edwin · Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 2:51 pm Post subject:

Only if it the same board. Only if it's done at PB.

What do you need that tattoo for?
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pilgrim · Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 3:17 pm Post subject:

Edwin,

Thanks for the swift reply.

To answer your first point, it is a different board, same make ASUS, but P5P800-VM instead of P5S800-VM which was the OEM board. The original will not support a Pentium D 9xx. [Information supplied by ASUS.]
As to your question, I was hoping to be able to use the OEM software already on my hard drive which I shall not be replacing.

My concern is that I have read elsewhere that the Tattoo on the hard drive is very hard to remove and if it is on the hard drive but not in the BIOS the new motherboard may not recognise the hard drive.

I have been wondering, if it became necessary, whether installing a new copy of Windows [XP] would overcome the problem but I have yet to get a definite answer.

edwin · Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 4:08 pm Post subject:

That would be a first. Anyhow, the tattoo as such is not supported by HP because you are replacing the board with a retail non-HP board. Restoring the OEM software from the recovery CDs might work or not. Not sure how strict it is setup for this sytem, your mileage may vary.

If that didn't work:
On the side of your casing you should have an OEM sticker with an XP license key. See that you get an install disk of the same flavour and language of XP and perform a clean install using the drivers for the chipset from Intel or Asus and drivers for all add-in/add-on stuff from HP.
_________________
edwin/evasive

Do not assume anything

System error, strike any user to continue...

pilgrim · Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:54 am Post subject:

Hi again,

I have access to an XP CD with which I have previously made an XP repair and I have been wondering if that option might be worth trying before I actually buy a new copy?
On the subject of XP, if I install a new version will I need to reinstall the rest of my software or will the new version install over the existing one?

Having looked through my OEM software since I last posted there is little that I actually need to keep and what I do need I can probably backup from my internal hard drive to an external one, so that is no longer an issue.

Forgive me if I seem a bit slow but the thing that still concerns me is the presence of the tattoo on the hard drive, is this just something that affects the installation of OEM software or will it affect recognition of the HDD by the new BIOS even with a new OS?
According to the link below not even reformatting will remove it.

http://www.packardbellwiki.be/

Thanks again for you help.