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Securing Your Computer: Dell™ Latitude™ L400 User's Guide

NOTES: All three passwords are disabled when you receive your computer. You need to assign those passwords if you require password security for your computer. Some companies may assign any or all of these passwords before distributing the computer. Use the system setup program to assign all passwords.

NOTICE: The password features provide a high level of security for the data in your computer or hard-disk drive. However, they are not foolproof. If your data requires more security, you should obtain and use additional forms of protection, such as data encryption programs or PC Cards with encryption features.

If you forget any of your passwords, call Dell. For your protection, Dell’s technical support staff will ask you for proof of your identity to make sure that an unauthorized person is not trying to use the computer.

A supervisor password can be assigned to give system administrators or service technicians in large companies access to computers for repair or reconfiguration. The administrators or technicians can assign identical supervisor passwords to groups of computers as they are unpacked and configured, leaving the user password free to be assigned by the user.

Enter Password

To continue, type your password and press <Enter>.

NOTICE: Disabling the supervisor password disables the user password.

Using a Hard-Disk Drive Password

If the hard-disk drive password is enabled, the following message appears each time you turn on the computer:

If you enter the wrong password, the following message appears:

To prevent unauthorized removal of the computer, you can use a security cable to attach the computer to an immovable object. Your computer has a security cable slot located on the right side of the computer next to the hard-disk drive (see Figure 1).

Description of Security Cable Slots

Basic Instructions for Using Security Cable Slots

To prevent unauthorized removal of your computer, loop the cable around an immovable object, insert the locking device into the security cable slot, and lock the device. See Figure 1 for an example of how to secure your computer. Complete instructions for installing this kind of antitheft device are usually included with the device.

Figure 1. Securing the Computer

NOTE: Antitheft devices are of differing designs. Before purchasing such a device, make sure that it will work with the security cable slot in your computer.

Asset Tag Utility

Dell has installed the Asset Tag utility on your computer. The Asset Tag utility allows you to perform the following actions:

• View the computer's service tag
  
  The non-modifiable service tag, which is viewable in the system setup program, is set by Dell at the factory. It is used to identify your computer to Dell for service and warranty purposes.

• Set, view, and modify the computer's asset tag
  
  The asset tag, which can be set by you or your company, is optional and is not required or used by Dell. The asset tag can be used in any way desired; typically it is used by a company to differentiate and identify multiple computers that use an internally assigned identifier.
  

Viewing Existing Asset and Service Tags

To view existing asset and service tags, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and click MS-DOS Prompt.
   
   
2. Type cd c:\Dell\Util and press <Enter>.
   
   
3. Type asset and press <Enter>.

Assigning an Asset Tag

An asset tag can have up to ten characters; any combination of characters is valid except those that begin with a forward slash (/) or a question mark (?). Spaces count as characters. To assign or change an asset tag, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and click MS-DOS Prompt.
   
   
2. Type cd c:\Dell\Util and press <Enter>.
   
   
3. Type asset and a space followed by the new tag, and press <Enter>.
   
   For example, type the following command line and press <Enter>:
   
   asset 1234 $AB&C
   
   
4. When the computer prompts you to verify that you want to change the asset tag, type y and press <Enter>.
   
   The computer displays the new or modified asset tag and the service tag.

NOTE: For security reasons, you cannot set, change, or delete the asset tag if either the USER or SUPERVISOR  password is set.

Deleting an Asset Tag

To delete the asset tag without assigning a new one, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and click MS-DOS Prompt.
   
   
2. Type cd c:\Dell\Util and press <Enter>.
   
   
3. Type asset /d and press <Enter>.

Table 1 lists the command-line options you can use with the Asset Tag utility. To use one of these options, open an MS-DOS® prompt, type asset and a space followed by the option, and then press <Enter>.

Table 1. Asset Tag Utility Commands

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