Manuals

Utilities

Asset Tag Utility
Keyboard Password Utility
Redirect Printer Port Utility
Monitor Select Utility

Asset Tag Utility
NOTE: This feature is available only on OptiPlex systems.

An asset tag number for the computer can be entered and the computer's service tag number reentered, if necessary. Both numbers are entered into NVRAM and are displayed in System Setup.
The path statement in the

autoexec.bat file should contain the directory in which asset.com was installed.
Using the Asset Tag Utility
Use the asset command from the system prompt. To view existing asset and service tag numbers, type

asset

and press .
Assigning/Deleting an Asset Tag Number
An asset tag number can have up to 10 characters; any combination of characters (excluding spaces) is valid. To assign or change an asset tag number, type

asset

and then a space followed by the new number, and press .
For example:

Asset 1234567890

When the system asks:

Are you sure? [y, n]

Type

.
The system then displays the new or modified asset tag number as well as the service tag number.
To delete the asset tag number without assigning a new one, type

asset /d

.
Asset Tag Options

Option    Description

/d        Deletes tag

/s        Applies change to service tag

/?        Displays the Asset Tag help screen

Reentering a Service Tag Number
The five-digit number from the service tag on the back of the computer was entered into NVRAM. To reenter the service tag number, type

asset /s

and then a space followed by service tag number, and press <ENTER>.

Keyboard Password Utility
NOTE: This feature is documented in the User's Guide, but was removed before the system shipped. It is no longer available on the 486/MTe.

Use this utility to disable the use of the keyboard. Make sure the path statement in the autoexec.bat file contains the directory in which kp.exe was installed.

NOTE: The Keyboard Password Utility only works on systems running MS-DOS.
Reconfiguring Windows
Edit the system.ini file in order to use the Keyboard Password utility while running Windows 3.0 or 3.1. Add the

kybdpasswd=true

statement to the 386Enh category.
Using the Keyboard Password Utility
Lock the keyboard by typing

kp

<ENTER>. Once the keyboard is locked, the system beeps once and the keyboard remains locked until the system password is typed. Then the system beeps again and the keyboard is unlocked.

Keyboard                                                                 
Password Options      Description

-c                    Temporary password can be assigned

-b                    Blanks screen when keyboard is locked

-h                    Displays keyboard password commands and provides   
                      description of each command

Redirect Printer Port Utility
NOTE:: This feature is available on the OptiPlex systems.

Printer output can be rerouted to a file or to a different parallel printer. Install redirect.com, and make sure the directory into which it is installed is listed in the path statement of the autoexec.bat file.

NOTE: This utility only works with parallel ports; it has no effect on serial ports.

To use one of the following options, type a space after the redirect command, followed by the option.

Redirect Printer                                                                              
Port Options              Description

/lptn path filename       Redirects the output from parallel port n to filename in path.  The 
or                        variable n can be 1, 2, or 3 (the default is LPT1).  The variable    
/n path filename          filename cannot contain wildcard characters.

/lptm:lptn                Redirects output from parallel port m to parallel port n.  Ports m  
or                        and n cannot be the same number.                                     
/m:n

/h                        Displays the redirect help screen.

/u                        Unloads the redirect utility from memory and stops any redirection  
                          currently in process

Monitor Select Utility
monitor.exe is used to determine the maximum refresh rate for each video resolution that the monitor supports. Running this utility significantly reduces the flicker produced from application programs that use high-resolution video modes.

NOTE: Run the Monitor Select utility each time a different monitor is connected to the system. Otherwise, the image may be distorted.

Running the Monitor Select Utility
1. Type

 monitor <

ENTER

at the MD-DOS prompt for a list of monitor names.
2. Select the appropriate monitor from the menu. If the monitor is not listed, select OTHER.
3. Follow the instructions on screen, answering all questions.
4. Press

ESC

to exit the Monitor Select utility.