HP & Compaq Notebook PCs

HOW TO FIND THE MODEL NUMBER ON YOUR HP OR COMPAQ NOTEBOOK PC

HP notebook PCs are built with a variety of hardware components and software configurations. When you need to find updated drivers, get service, or purchase parts, you will need to know the Product Name , the Model Number , and the Product Number for your PC. Of these, the Model Number is the most important!

* The Product Name of a computer is similar to the brand name of a car. It identifies the type of product and the general configuration, but does not give you enough specific information to order parts.

* The Model Number , for a car or a computer, identifies the hardware configuration and the features available on the product.

* The Product Number (p/n) provides even more specific information about the product, such as CPU, memory, hard drive size. This allows the service technicians to determine what components and parts are needed.

What do the different number mean?

The sample Service Tag, attached to the bottom of the notebook, identifies these three important pieces of information.

Figure 1: Sample Service Tag

Identifier	Name	Example	Description
1	Product Name (Product)	HP Pavilion dv9000	The Product Name on the front of your notebook is not the same as your Model Number. HP tags its notebooks with Product Names. There can be over 100 different models in and specific series of notebooks.
2	Product Number (p/n)	RST123A#ABA	The Product number is unique to the hardware components and to the facility where the PC was assembled. Normally, when searching for, or entering, the Product number, you only need to enter the letters and numbers before the # sign.
3	Model Number (shown in area below the bar codes)	dv9095xx	This is the number you need to locate documents, drivers, and support for your notebook. The two or three letter suffix on the model number indicates special information like country or language.

There are several different ways to find the Product Name, Model Number, and Product Number of your PC. These procedures are described in this document. Be sure to record these number so you have the correct information when it is needed to find drivers, read documents, or order parts.

NOTE: On some models, some of the information may be missing. You may need to contact HP support for individual assistance.

How to find the model number printed on the Service Tag

A printed Service Tag, with the Product Number and Model Number, was attached to the bottom of every HP and Compaq notebook manufactured since 2000. There may be some visual differences, but the tag on your PC should look similar to the sample Service Tag shown above.

If the tag is no longer attached to the bottom of the notebook, use one of the following procedures to locate the model number electronically.

How to find the model number electronically

The information about the Product Name, Model Number, and Product Number is stored electronically in your PC. Microsoft and HP provide commands and utilities to access this information. When you perform any of these procedures, please allow time for the utilities to collect and display the information.

How to find the Model Number using the HP Help & Support Center

The original HP factory image on newer notebooks has a Help and Support Center that can display critical product information. If the Help & Support Center is installed on your notebook PC, then do the following:

1. In Vista - Click Start > Help & Support , then System Information .

2. In XP - Click Start > Help & Support , then click My HP Computer > System Information .

3. Record the Product Name and Product Number information.

4. Click the X in the upper right-hand corner to close the Help & Support window.

How to find the Model Number using the Auto-detection function on the web

The HP website has an auto-detection function that can read the product information stored electronically on the PC.

1. Open your browser and go to HP Support and Drivers .

2. Select the Support and Troubleshooting link, then click the Start Detection button under the Automatically detect product names/numbers section. Follow the instructions on-screen.

NOTE: If you have never used the Auto-detection function before, follow the on-screen instructions to download an Active X download utility, then click Start Detection again.

3. Allow the utility to access your PC and display a report.

4. Record the Model Name information.

5. Click the X in the upper right-hand corner to close the browser window.

How to find the Model Number using Microsoft commands

Since model information is stored electronically along with the BIOS information on the computer, Microsoft provides the following command to display the information from within the operating system.

1. In XP click Start > Run . Type msinfo32 , and press the enter key to open the System Information window.

2. In Vista click Start and type System info in the search field, and then select System Information .

3. Record the System Model and Product Number information.

4. Click File > Exit to close the System Information window

How to find the Model Number in the BIOS

Since model information is stored electronically along with the BIOS information on the computer, the information can be displayed by opening the BIOS setup window before entering the operating system.

1. Turn on the computer and press and release F10 several times when the first screen appears to open the BIOS Setup screen.

2. Select Main (or File > System Information ) for a list of values.

3. Record the Notebook Model, Product Number, and Serial Number .

4. Press F10 and the enter key to exit the Setup screen. The computer will now restart.

How to find the Model Number using the HP - Vista utility

If you are running the HP factory-installed Vista operating system, HP provides a utility to access all the electronically stored model information. If you have installed a different operating system, this HP utility is not available and you should use one of the other methods to locate the model information.

1. With the notebook operating in Vista, on the notebook keypad, press and hold the function key and the escape key at the same time ( fn + esc ).

2. Press the escape key.

3. Record the Product Name (Model), Product Number, and Serial Number . If you are speaking to an agent for support purchasing parts, they can convert the serial number to get the exact information for your PC.

4. Click OK to close the System Information window