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 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.

NOTE: The Asset Tag utility only works on systems running MS-DOS.

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 <ENTER>.

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; press <ENTER>.

For example:

asset 1234567890 

<ENTER>

When the system asks the following question, type

y

and press <ENTER>:

Are you sure? [y, n]

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

/d

/s

/?

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 the service tag number and press <ENTER>.

For example, type

asset /s 12345

and press <ENTER>.

When the system asks

. . . Are you sure? [y, n],

type

y 

and press <ENTER>.

Keyboard Password Utility

NOTE: This feature is only available on OptiPlex systems.

Use this utility to disable the use of the keyboard. Make sure the path statement in the autoexec.bat statement 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

kybdpasswd=true

in the 386Enh category.

Using the Keyboard Password Utility

Lock the keyboard by typing

kp

and press <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

-c 

-b

-h

Redirect Printer Port Utility

NOTE: This feature is only available on 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

/lptn path filename
or
/n path filename

/lptm:lptn
or
/m:n

/h

/u

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
   
   and press <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.