Numbering Laptops?

[RobG]

I've taken to putting an identifying number on the lid of each laptop, not teacher laptops but trolley sets.
Help a lot as teachers/pupils often don't put things back in the correct place, also for fault reporting, renaming after ghosting and locating a particular laptop.

Normally these are just hand written in ether permanent marker or tippex (nice and visible on black laptops) only issue is the numbers getting worn off, esp on a new batch of toshiba's, the permanent marker doesn't hold too well.
I did try stickers once, however the "little darlings" seem to love peeling stickers off any bit IT equipment.

I'm just wondering what others do and if they do how do you number them?

Any suggestions for a good hard waring/picking proof solution?

[K.C.Leblanc]

Does your DT department have a laser cutter?

We etch our school name and postcode onto the lids of every new laptop.

[glennda]

Get some of the Tamper Proof Labels?:: Selectamark Security Systems plc ::

You could ask them to set them up with computer number etc

they are pretty hard to get off!

[FreeWill]

We label laptops underneath near the serial number and also underneath the battery (on the chassis). We found labels on the top were picked off too often as they were seen by the students.

Dymo gun labels are what we use and, for us, they do last the academic year if placed in one of the places I mentioned.

[nephilim]

We have used these in the past...very very good

SECURITY LABELS | SECURITY SEALS | SECURITY STICKERS | CUSTOM TAMPER PROOF LABELS | TAMPER EVIDENT VOID DVD SECURITY LABELS UK < they have some fantastic products

[difinity]

We use a dymo printer here, label each laptop on it's edge and also the lid. It helps ensure laptop 1 goes in bay 1 etc. Marking the laptop number on the bottom in pen, also helps to identify laptops quickly. Forget security stickers, the kids can peel those off.

[witch]

Does your DT department have a laser cutter?

We etch our school name and postcode onto the lids of every new laptop.

Doesn't this void the warranty?

[localzuk]

We use tamper proof labels here. If you try and pick them off, only tiny bits come off. They do still eventually come off, but usually takes years.

[K.C.Leblanc]

Doesn't this void the warranty?

Toshiba happily repaired a laptop that had been etched.

[pcstru]

We use some etching paint stuff "selecta mark" (:: Selectamark Security Systems plc ::). applied over a stencil. Seems to work quite well.

[Gibbo]

We use a tippex pen. Anyone caught messing and trying to pick off the writing is disciplined.

[pete]

Doesn't this void the warranty?

It really depends on how you do it. HP (for example) don't care providing:

1) You're not etching deeply enough to risk structural integrity
2) You aren't performing the etch in a manner likely to damage the laptop
3) You're etching plastic (as opposed to metal structural items / shieldings)

about 0.2mm will do it.

[laserblazer]

I use a CD Marker pen, that last around 12 months

[RobG]

Interesting, nice to know I'm not the only one to use marker & tippex

We do have asset tag stickers we put on the bottom of every laptop, but that's more for inventory purposes not computer naming and locating it on the server.

A few years back one of our science technicians did etch the school name into a set of laptops, well melted it in with a soldering iron.
When one of the back lights died (inverter failed) HP refused to repair it under warranty, even though it was not near the inverter, however I don't blame them that much.

Self etching paint does sound ideal, I'll have to look into that.

On a totally separate issue, one thing that's currently annoying me, we've just got a load of nice mini-ITX systems in, however due to the size the only place the windows License sticker can go is on the side and already we've lost some of those to little fingers.