This article is intended for faculty, staff, and students looking to locate the serial number or computer name of a University-owned computer.
Requirements
To follow this article the user must be in front of a University-owned computer that requires a work ticket for repair or troubleshooting.
Locating the Serial Number
To better identify computers for work tickets, ITS may request the serial number or computer name from your University-owned computer. HP computers have a serial number with 10 alphanumeric characters. Apple computers have a serial number with 12 alphanumeric characters. If you are unable to provide the serial number, we will request the computer name and instructions for that can be found in the Locating the Computer Name section.
HP Desktops
For HP desktops, the serial number is located on a sticker on the top or side of the computer tower, as shown below:
HP Laptops
For HP laptops, the serial number is typically under the battery. However, on some thinner models without a removable battery, the serial number is located on the bottom middle near the hinge.Dell Desktops
You can find the Dell desktop computer serial number(service tag) by looking for the label on the top, back or side of your computer tower. If your Dell computer is an all-in-one, then you can find the serial number on the lower back side of the all-in-one or on the all-in-one stand.
Dell Laptops
Dell laptops typically have the number on a label on the bottom of the computer, usually toward the middle. Older Dell laptop models may have the serial number(service tag) under the removable laptop battery on the bottom of the laptop.
Apple Devices
For any Mac, you can view the serial number from About This Mac:
- Click the Apple button on the menu bar
- Click About This Mac
- The Serial Number field is at the bottom
If the Mac is not functional enough to boot into macOS, the serial number is also etched on the bottom of the stand for iMacs and on the bottom middle near the hinge for MacBooks. If the serial number isn't acceptable or is unreadable, ITS will accept a location description of the Mac instead.
IMPORTANT NOTE
The blue Property of University of Michigan tag is NOT the serial number. Unfortunately, for diagnostic and location purposes, this tag provides ITS with no usable information. The blue property tag looks like this:
Locating the Computer Name
As an acceptable alternative or if you are unable to provide the serial number, we will request the computer name. To find the computer name, please follow the steps for your operating system:
OS X or macOS
- Click the Apple button on the menu bar
- Click System Preferences
- Click Sharing
- The Computer Name field is at the top
Windows 8
- Open the Charms bar by hovering the cursor in the top right corner
- Click Settings and click PC Info
- The Computer name field is under the heading Computer, domain, and workgroup settings
Windows 8.1
- Right-click the Start button and click System
- The Computer name field is under the heading Computer, domain, and workgroup settings
Windows 10
- Click on the Start button. In the search box, type "Computer".
- Right-click on This PC within the search results and select Properties.
- Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings you will find the computer name listed.
Troubleshooting
If you have any questions or experience any issues with this article, please visit or contact the ITS Helpdesk for assistance.
On Dell computers, the Dell Service Tag is the serial number. On a desktop, the label is probably located on the back of the computer case, but can also be located on the top or side of the system. On laptops, it is usually on the bottom, but look at the rest of the outside of the computer if you cannot find it. It can also be under a flip tab. It will contain information like this:If your Dell computer will not turn on you can go to the link below on another computer and fill in your service tag to find out about your warranty.
IF YOUR DELL COMPUTER IS WORKING, FOLLOW THESE STEPS.
If your Dell computer is working, follow these steps.
Go to //www.dell.com/support. You may have to install Dell Support Assist in other for this to work (a link should be provided from this page). Once you have it, the model of your computer and Service Tag will show here.
Now you will see this. You may click on View Details if you want more information.
To complete a Cherwell laptop support form, you may select as follows on this laptop:
Make: Dell Latitude
Model: 5480/5488
Serial Number: the entry beside Service Tag
Another way to find a computer serial number is to search for Command Prompt from your Windows search and then start the Command Prompt.