Disable Absolute & Computrace BIOS Persistence
Absolute (formerly Computrace) is a persistence module that lives in a device's firmware and can silently reinstall its tracking agent into Windows on every boot — even after a clean wipe and reimage. Our bootable tool auto-detects whether Absolute or Computrace is present and disables it at the firmware level, so decommissioned Dell, HP, and Lenovo hardware ships clean.
Download the Free Bootable Tool
No account required — download a ready-to-boot image, boot the target machine, and run any tool from the menu. Want results tied to your organization automatically? Create a free account for an API key and downloadable certificates — otherwise results are claimable later with a verification code.
Already run iPXE? Chain-boot with no download:
chain https://www.itadtools.com/pxe/boot.ipxe
For asset owners and authorized ITAD processors only
This tool is intended for hardware you own or are explicitly authorized to process — for example, an organization retiring its own fleet, or an ITAD vendor handling inventory under contract. It is designed for decommissioned devices where the original Absolute subscription has lapsed and the persistence module would otherwise keep reinstalling an orphaned agent on resold or refurbished hardware. Do not use it to defeat theft-recovery or device controls on hardware you do not own. Always confirm you have the right to modify the firmware before proceeding.
What Is the Absolute / Computrace Module?
Absolute Persistence (originally branded Computrace) is a firmware-resident component embedded by many OEMs in the system BIOS/UEFI. When activated, it checks for the Absolute software in Windows at boot and, if missing, restores it — the whole point being that it survives an OS reinstall or a drive wipe. That is exactly the behavior you want gone in IT asset disposition: a device leaving your custody should not carry an orphaned agent that phones home to a subscription that is no longer yours. Disabling the module at the firmware level stops it from re-provisioning anything on the next owner's machine.
How It Works
Booted from the ITAD Tools menu, the routine runs automatically
Boot & Select
Boot the device into the ITAD Tools menu and choose "Disable Absolute / Computrace." Everything after this runs without further input.
Detect Vendor
It reads the system vendor and product details, then loads the matching firmware-attributes drivers for Dell, HP, or Lenovo.
Locate the Module
It searches the firmware-attributes interface for the Absolute or Computrace setting, falling back to the Dell SMBIOS token interface on older systems.
Disable & Report
It sets the module to Disabled (supplying the BIOS password if one is configured) and reports the result: disabled, nothing to disable, or unsupported.
Supported Hardware
Detection works through the modern firmware-attributes interface, with a Dell SMBIOS fallback
Dell
Uses the dell-wmi-sysman firmware-attributes provider, with the dell_smbios token interface as a fallback for older Computrace systems.
HP / HPE
Uses the hp-bioscfg firmware-attributes provider, falling back to the HP WMI interface on older models.
Lenovo
Uses the ThinkPad thinklmi firmware-attributes provider to locate and disable the persistence setting.
Both the new and old names are handled
Because the module was renamed over time, firmware may expose it as either Absolute (newer) or Computrace (older). The tool checks for both attribute names and disables whichever it finds — you don't need to know in advance which one a given machine uses.
A Clean Handoff for Every Device
No orphaned agents
A lapsed persistence module can keep reinstalling tracking software on a machine that no longer belongs to you. Disabling it removes that liability before resale.
Survives reimaging
Because the module lives in firmware, wiping the drive and reinstalling Windows is not enough. The setting has to be cleared at the firmware level — which is what this does.
Pairs with secure wipe
Run it alongside a secure data wipe from the same boot menu so each unit leaves with both its data destroyed and its firmware persistence cleared.
How to Run It
It's one entry in the ITAD Tools boot menu
Boot the target device with the ITAD Tools media — chain-load over the network, or write an ISO/USB/EFI image — then choose "Disable Absolute / Computrace" from the menu. To chain-boot from an existing iPXE setup:
See the Boot Tools overview for boot-media downloads, organization API keys, and the full menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Absolute and Computrace?
They are the same technology at different points in time. Computrace was the original name for the firmware-resident persistence module; it was later rebranded as Absolute. Older systems expose it as "Computrace" and newer ones as "Absolute" in the BIOS/firmware. The tool auto-detects whichever is present and disables it.
Which manufacturers are supported?
Dell, HP/HPE, and Lenovo. The tool reads the system vendor, loads the appropriate firmware-attributes drivers (for example dell-wmi-sysman, hp-bioscfg, or thinklmi), and locates the Absolute/Computrace setting. Older Dell systems are also handled through the Dell SMBIOS token interface as a fallback.
Does it need the BIOS administrator password?
Only if the device has a BIOS administrator password set. On many firmware interfaces, changing a protected attribute requires that password to authorize the change. You can supply it to the tool when a password is configured; if no BIOS password is set, none is needed.
Is disabling the module reversible?
Generally no. By design, the firmware persistence setting has a permanent "Disabled" state that cannot be re-enabled once selected. That permanence is intentional for IT asset disposition — it guarantees the resold or recycled device will not silently re-provision the agent — but it means you should only run it on hardware you own or are authorized to process.
What if the module is already disabled or not present?
The tool reports a clear result: it disabled the module, found nothing to disable (already disabled or not present), or the system is not supported. It does not change unrelated firmware settings.
Is it legal to disable Absolute/Computrace?
It is legal when you own the device or are explicitly authorized to process it — for example, an organization retiring its own fleet or an ITAD vendor processing inventory under contract. It must not be used to defeat theft-recovery or device controls on hardware you do not own or are not authorized to modify. Always confirm you have the right to alter the firmware before proceeding.