A trusted platform module (TPM) is a silicon chip that constitutes a secure encryption key-pair generator and key management device. A TPM provides a hardware-based root-of-trust contingent on the generation of the first key-pair that the device creates: the SRK (storage root key). Each SRK is unique, making each TPM unique, and an SRK is never exported from a TPM. Broadly contemplated herein is an arrangement for determining automatically whether a TPM has been replaced or cleared via loading a TPM blob into the TPM prior to the first time it is to be used (e.g. when a security-related software application runs). If the TPM blob loads successfully, then it can be concluded that the TPM is the same TPM that was used previously. If the TPM blob cannot be loaded, then corrective action will preferably take place automatically to configure the new TPM.