While I like your theory that would only apply to laptops.
Their webpage clearly says, "Tracking Agent software resides on any Windows
based PC."

First, that would seem to indicate that laptops and desktops are treated the
same way.
Second, it would seem to imply WIndows was needed.

Both of these items seem to add to the confusion.


"Dennis Heidner" <[log in to unmask]> wrote in message
news:01bffe9a$980dc080$031e82c0@bigbird...
> Gary, the web link has changed.  But was this for CompuTrace by Absolute.
>
> http://www.absolute.com/
>
> If so, I believe they are taking advantage "sleep/power down" disk area
for
> lap top computers.  Basically the Laptop makers create the DOS/Windows
> partition somewhat smaller than the whole drive, and put the sleep area
> after the big partition.  I think Computrace is inserting itself
in-between
> the two and changing the partition size.
>
> On laptops that sleep partition size is often a hidden BIOS setting.  This
> would allow them to insert the trace program, yet prevent its destruction
> with FDISK/MBR and the ordinary FORMAT command.  However pulling the drive
> out of the PC and using DISKManager (Ontrak) on it would pretty much wipe
> out the trace program.
>
> But I doubt the thieves are smart enough to do that,  most of them want to
> pawn the stuff fast.  The result is the poor soul that buys this really
> good bargain PC and connects to an ISP, may discover later that the laptop
> was stolen.   If he is lucky, they only get a good tongue lashing by the
> police, if not, they also get arrested for having stolen property.
>
>