Install DmiScope. Click 'unsorted' at the bottom left, choose base board information---> data fields. At serial number (value was not set) enter the Hewlett string and write DMI entry. The empty field 'serial number' is reserved for a serial number, but accepts characters (letter) as well. Type "Hewlett" without quotation marks exactly into the field. Write the DMI entry and reboot. Check if the Hewlett string is still there....done. No problem! Yen