windows 10 upgrade

[sczze]

my institution told me that they needed to windows 10 pro for whatever features that they need when i join.

They allow us to use our personal devices if we do not want to purchase the laptop under their own personal device programme

They are providing a free upgrade from windows 10 home to windows 10 pro, and they wanted my device serial number, and model number. Nothing else.

I dont see how this helps in the upgrade of windows version. Any comments??

 

ps: They also said they need to format the whole device for the upgrade so we need to move all our files off first.

[tkitch]

That will let them look up specs to make sure your home device will do what they need it to.  

 

Cuz I can install and run Win10 Home on a laptop that's a steaming pile of crap that won't be able to do anything productive.

[Dedayog]

They're paying the license fee for the upgrade, so they want to know what device it's on.  Basic accounting and inventory control.

 

[Curioisman]

I don't know why they would need device serial number, and I wouldn't personally give them it, but a model number is safe to give out as it is only your computer model

[Dedayog]

2 minutes ago, Curioisman said:

I don't know why they would need device serial number, and I wouldn't personally give them it, but a model number is safe to give out as it is only your computer model

It's literally on a sticker on the bottom of the device, anyone can see it anytime.  Nothing you can really do with it anyway.  Like your car tag, it's nothing more than an identifier.

 

Yes, the company needs it.  

[Curioisman]

Just now, Dedayog said:

It's literally on a sticker on the bottom of the device, anyone can see it anytime.  Nothing you can really do with it anyway.  Like your car tag, it's nothing more than an identifier.

 

Yes, the company needs it.  

I mean if the company needs it for records, then yea. But not anyone can really see it anytime if your home isn't a open-door policy, also car serials are not for everyone eyes too. Whit serial number you can order fraudulently parts for it or warranty claim.

[jaslion]

9 minutes ago, Curioisman said:

I mean if the company needs it for records, then yea. But not anyone can really see it anytime if your home isn't a open-door policy, also car serials are not for everyone eyes too. Whit serial number you can order fraudulently parts for it or warranty claim.

Ok so the dude that would get the serial number would maybe be able to buy parts WITH THEIR OWN MONEY. Or ya know those parts if available are usually for sale anyway if you ask the manufacturer.

 

As for warranty. What are they gonna do? Claim a box of air for replacement?

 

There is literally no issue here. You're reaching to find a problem.

[Curioisman]

1 minute ago, jaslion said:

Ok so the dude that would get the serial number would maybe be able to buy parts WITH THEIR OWN MONEY. Or ya know those parts if available are usually for sale anyway if you ask the manufacturer.

 

As for warranty. What are they gonna do? Claim a box of air for replacement?

 

There is literally no issue here. You're reaching to find a problem.

People are animals, it has been done before and there is possibility, I highly doubt the company does it, but there is still possibility of misuse.

[Dedayog]

14 minutes ago, Curioisman said:

I mean if the company needs it for records, then yea. But not anyone can really see it anytime if your home isn't a open-door policy, also car serials are not for everyone eyes too. Whit serial number you can order fraudulently parts for it or warranty claim.

Uhm, VIN numbers on cars are on the dashboard, you see them thru the front windshield from outside the car..  I can gather dozens in our parking lot right now.

 

Sure, order parts.  Who pays for them?  The asshole who wrote down your VIN does, not you.  Schedule a warranty claim, sure.  How do they do the work without the car?

 

I mean honestly, what more than a phone call or small inconvenience would that entail for me?

 

Btw, I can get S/N of laptops at Starbucks all day every day.  I could totally download your Dell chipset drivers using your laptop S/N to my desktop and then... oh wait, nothing.

 

I understand not wanting to give info, but realize it's not much of a big deal.

 

But if you want the VIN of my car, I'll gladly post it.

 

 

[jaslion]

1 minute ago, Curioisman said:

People are animals, it has been done before and there is possibility, I highly doubt the company does it, but there is still possibility of misuse.

There is literally not a single way to misuse the number. Like at all. You cannot order the parts under some persons name and not pay for them that is not how it works. Then they simply don't ship them to you.

 

Warranty doesn't happen if the device is literally not there.

 

This is a none issue. I mean I have the stupid sn sticker still on the back of my phone and I've had that on there for years with a CLEAR case most of the time. Anyone could have taken that number but it's literally beyond useless.

 

For the company it's just some random identifier barcode of a product they once sold. Nothing more. Anything that can be done with it is on the person that gives them the code and if they do not have the device no warranty bs can happen.

[Curioisman]

2 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

Uhm, VIN numbers on cars are on the dashboard, you see them thru the front windshield from outside the car..  I can gather dozens in our parking lot right now.

 

Sure, order parts.  Who pays for them?  The asshole who wrote down your VIN does, not you.  Schedule a warranty claim, sure.  How do they do the work without the car?

 

I mean honestly, what more than a phone call or small inconvenience would that entail for me?

 

Btw, I can get S/N of laptops at Starbucks all day every day. 

 

 

My vin numbers are located on the engine, all my cars, but that isn't the point.

 

nowadays it isn't nearly as easy before to fraud these, yet I rather keep my sn private if I can help it.

[Dedayog]

Just now, Curioisman said:

My vin numbers are located on the engine, all my cars, but that isn't the point.

 

nowadays it isn't nearly as easy before to fraud these, yet I rather keep my sn private if I can help it.

Right, they're on the engine, usually the radiator sticker as well as the dashboard.  Yes, that is the point.  As we're discussing whether we should give S/N (VIN is the serial number of a car) to people.  

 

To the OP:

 

I totally agree with you but also I want to take the fear out of giving the S/N of a laptop to an IT department for which you work.  Btw, you gave them your banking details (for direct deposit) and Social Security number (for taxes) and maybe your license plate and VIN for a parking permit at the office.  S/N for a laptop...ain't no thang.

 

 

[Curioisman]

1 minute ago, Dedayog said:

Right, they're on the engine, usually the radiator sticker as well as the dashboard.  Yes, that is the point.  As we're discussing whether we should give S/N (VIN is the serial number of a car) to people.  

 

To the OP:

 

I totally agree with you but also I want to take the fear out of giving the S/N of a laptop to an IT department for which you work.  Btw, you gave them your banking details (for direct deposit) and Social Security number (for taxes) and maybe your license plate and VIN for a parking permit at the office.  S/N for a laptop...ain't no thang.

 

 

I agree and I don't think the company would do anything malicious whit sn, it would be more bad to the company than the invidiual, and I am not trying to argue, I am just saying it's just best practice to not share sn to people unless it is actually needed, let it be car repairer or PC repairer and so on.

[Robchil]

if you join your computer to a domain that gathers hardware and software info with ex. config manager, ops manager, the serial nr is to ID your computer as your device in the network, they can ID your domain user as well as logged on to that device, and mac adress SSID etc, but it's easier to just search for a serial nr than ssid or mac.