Remotely change a boot sequence?

[leco]

Is it possible to change the bootup sequence on a remote computer? I want to change from CD/HDD/LAN to LAN/CD/HDD. Can the change in the bios only be done locally?

[leco]

I dont know of any bios that allows this, and I think if they did it would be abused in software like viruses.

The mothboard manual should verify this, im afraid you might have to manually change them.

This is a pain, as like me you probebly password protect them to stop the little darlings booting from CD.

 

Most new bios allow you to hot key a boot menu, much to the amusement of admins trying to secure them.

 

Thought that would probably be the case. Thanks anyway.

[binky]

If your computer has vPro then you can.

[leco]

If your computer has vPro then you can.

 

I don't think the machine has that or anything like it. The server has a management console but this is a set of laptops I'm looking at.

Edited May 15, 2009 by leco

[SteveMC]

Not heard of that is it specific to a particular make?

 

It's an Intel feature - certain Intel chipsets have it (not sure which ones - Intel® vPro™ Technology for Notebook and Desktop PCs has more info). Essentially it allows various remote management options, including on some laptops, the ability to remotely wipe the system (handy if the device gets stolen).

 

Stephen

[leco]

Thanks just looked it up in Wiki hence the edit on my post. I have something like that on my home desktop, though I obviously have no need to remotely maintain that.

[SYNACK]

If the laptops are hp or Dell there is a managment solution that allow you to do this. There is even a client app that may be on the laptops called protect tools (hp) that allows customisation of the bios in windows.

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/general-chat/12211-bios-passwords-housekeeping.html#post123429

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/how-do-you-do/33758-set-wake-lan-remotely.html

[leco]

Not HP or DELL but Acer Travelmates. Will search a little more now that you have given some pointers as to what to look for, thanks.

[SYNACK]

The clientside stuff to do it directly on each machine is called Acer eSettings. Heres a link to download it from the Travelmate 5710g: http://global-download.acer.com/GDFiles/Application/eSetting/eSettings_Acer_v2.5.4302_Vista(SP1).zip?acerid=633639593770019675&Step1=Notebook&Step2=TravelMate&Step3=TravelMate 5710G&OS=V10&LC=en&SC=EMEA_27

 

it should just be under the applications bit for each laptop type. Don't know if they do a centralised one but it will at least let you do it with the machines over RDP if nothing else

http://img.informer.com/screenshots/223/223993_8.png

 

Manual: ftp://ftp.support.acer-euro.com/notebook/empowering_technology/acer_esettings_management.pdf

 

Looks like there is some network managment stuff but its integrated into other managment stuff:

http://support.acer-euro.com/faqs/faqsearch.html

 

Looks like this was the old version but I can't find any more info on it:

http://www.allproducts.com/manufacture9/acer/p03.html

Edited May 16, 2009 by SYNACK

[leco]

Gosh that lot'll keep me busy for a few evenings of reading. Thanks I wish I had your powers of search. Though in my defence I have been out most of the afternoon and evening.

[srochford]

HP and Dell computers can certainly have their BIOS settings changed remotely - I think you can do this with vPro but you don't need it. For the HP it's a simple exe file which reads a text file listing the settings you want. You need admin rights to run it which reduces the risk of remote attack and there are a few BIOS settings you can't change.

 

For HP it's part of SSM for other machines you're looking for "SMBIOS" tools.

Edited May 17, 2009 by srochford