Overview
Beginning in September 2019, the operating system deployment (OSD) process for MiWorkspace and Platform as a Service Windows systems will set a BIOS password on systems. BIOS passwords are now set as part of the OSD process because HP will no longer help us reset unknown BIOS Passwords.
Affected Models
Beginning in September 2019, BIOS passwords will be set automatically during OSD for the following models:
HP EliteOne 800 G1 and G2
HP Z2 Workstation models
HP Z4 Workstation models
Dell Precision Tower 3430
Dell Precision 5530
Questions and Answers
Q: Will additional models get BIOS passwords in the future?
A: Yes. BIOS passwords will be added for additional models.
Q: Will all BIOS passwords be added for all MiWorkspace models.
A: There are no plans to add BIOS passwords for every MWS supported PC model. Older models and models with small numbers of systems in production may not have support for BIOS passwords added to the OSD task sequence.
Q: Will BIOS passwords be set on systems that are already in use?
A: There are no plans to add BIOS passwords on supported models that are already in use by customers. However, BIOS passwords may be added at the time that systems are rebuilt using the OSD task sequence or during a Windows 10 OS upgrade.
Q: Can I be provided with the BIOS password that I can adjust BIOS settings on a device in my department?
A: Yes. IT staff in Platform as a Service units can obtain the BIOS password by contacting the MiWorkspace Windows Engineering Team at euc-win-support@umich.edu.
Q: Why is it important that a BIOS password be set?
A: Because HP will no longer reset the BIOS passwords, computers with unknown passwords are a risk as this could cause them to be unmanageable, and could prevent them from ever being rebuilt.