Re: hp 450 g7 password
Okay, at the risk of throwing this thread completely off topic, here's what I've found about the Absolute software:
I reset the security settings in BIOS and wiped the drive with EaseUS Partition Master, as suggested. I then reinstalled Windows 10 with no internet connection. On first start, Absolute software was installed in the Windows folder, I assume by the BIOS. The files were "rpcnetp.exe", "rpcnetp.dll", and "wpbbin.exe", located in the System32 and SysWOW64 folders. "Rpcnetp" also ran as a system service. I stopped the service, and deleted the rpcnetp files (before I found that wpbbin was also an Absolute file), but those files reappeared after a reboot. I then created dummy files (0kb txt files renamed as .exe and .dll) and placed them in the proper locations, after killing the service/running process, and setting the dummy files to read-only. The software did not reactivate after reboot. I then ran Windows Update, and all updates installed without creating the Absolute Software or CTES folders that were installed on first Windows try. It's been running for several hours now without installing the Absolute software or entering "Device Freeze" mode. I haven't tried Windows update without creating the dummy files to disable rpcnetp/wpbbin, so I don't know for sure yet if resetting the Security Defaults in BIOS would have really set Absolute to not install by default, but I will test that in the near future, now that I know how to disable it. I can only assume the software uses the UUID or serial number to check the status, regardless of the persistence module state. I can say that the Device Freeze and Absolute installation does not change the module's inactive state or re-enable it, as the BIOS setting remained permanently disabled even after previous Windows install and Device Freeze. Thanks again for your amazing help with this, and hopefully this info may help anyone dealing with this in the future.
Okay, at the risk of throwing this thread completely off topic, here's what I've found about the Absolute software:
I reset the security settings in BIOS and wiped the drive with EaseUS Partition Master, as suggested. I then reinstalled Windows 10 with no internet connection. On first start, Absolute software was installed in the Windows folder, I assume by the BIOS. The files were "rpcnetp.exe", "rpcnetp.dll", and "wpbbin.exe", located in the System32 and SysWOW64 folders. "Rpcnetp" also ran as a system service. I stopped the service, and deleted the rpcnetp files (before I found that wpbbin was also an Absolute file), but those files reappeared after a reboot. I then created dummy files (0kb txt files renamed as .exe and .dll) and placed them in the proper locations, after killing the service/running process, and setting the dummy files to read-only. The software did not reactivate after reboot. I then ran Windows Update, and all updates installed without creating the Absolute Software or CTES folders that were installed on first Windows try. It's been running for several hours now without installing the Absolute software or entering "Device Freeze" mode. I haven't tried Windows update without creating the dummy files to disable rpcnetp/wpbbin, so I don't know for sure yet if resetting the Security Defaults in BIOS would have really set Absolute to not install by default, but I will test that in the near future, now that I know how to disable it. I can only assume the software uses the UUID or serial number to check the status, regardless of the persistence module state. I can say that the Device Freeze and Absolute installation does not change the module's inactive state or re-enable it, as the BIOS setting remained permanently disabled even after previous Windows install and Device Freeze. Thanks again for your amazing help with this, and hopefully this info may help anyone dealing with this in the future.
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