Computrace: Replaced by Absolute module in newest BIOS revisions

Table of Contents:

1. Is Computrace not listed in your Dell BIOS anymore?
2. What are the differences with the new module?
3. How do you setup the new module?

Is Computrace not listed in your Dell BIOS anymore?

Dells are updating from the legacy Computrace module in their most recent BIOS versions to the Absolute Module Interface. The sections below provide information about what the differences between the two modules are. They ensure that the new module is configured correctly for your Dell computer.

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What are the differences with the new module?

• The main difference is that the Computrace section of the BIOS is renamed to Absolute.
• The options have also had some name changes and are in a different order:

  • Computrace
    Deactivate The Computrace Module Interface is disabled, but not locked. State can change to either Activate, or Disable.	Activate Enable the Computrace Module Interface. Permanent: Cannot be changed.	Disable The Computrace module interface is permanently disabled. Permanent: Cannot be changed.

  • Absolute Persistance
    Disable The Absolute Persistence Module Interface is Disabled.	Enable The Absolute Persistence Module Interface is Enabled. (This allows the Absolute OS Activation Agent to Provision the platform and "Activate" the platform.)	Permanently Disable The Absolute Persistence Module Interface is permanently disabled. Permanent: Cannot be changed.

• The Computrace default setting Deactivate has changed under Absolute to Enabled.
• However Enabled does not mean that the feature is active:
  • Different to Computrace, enabling Absolute is not permanent (Unless the application is installed and the Absolute server sends an activation command.)

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How do you setup the new module?

Absolute Persistence is an update to the legacy Computrace module.

The difference between the two versions is that Absolute requires a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) authentication to Absolutes servers in order to fully Activate the feature. The Enabled default state in the BIOS setup for Absolute only enables the Absolute interface to be ready for the activation by the server. When it is not activated until the Absolute software is installed in the Operating System. The Absolute server interacts with your computer to send a signed authentication and activation packet to the BIOS. Only then will the BIOS Activate the persistence module if that authentication is successful.

Once authentication is finished, the Interface in the BIOS is greyed out.

The Permanently Disable option in Absolute has the same result as Disable for Computrace, the feature becomes permanently unavailable.

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