Manuals

System Password: Dell Dimension XPS 4100V & XPS 466V

Enabling and Assigning a System Password | Using the System Password | Changing an Existing Password | Disabling a Forgotten Password

Enabling and Assigning a System Password

1. Enter the System Setup program, and set the System Password category to Enabled.
2. Save the System Setup changes, exit the System Setup program, and reboot the system by pressing <Esc>.
3. Type y when the following message appears:

Do you want to have a password (Y or N)?

4. Type in the password, up to 6 characters.
   
5. Press <Enter> when finished.

Using the System Password

Each time the system boots, this message will be displayed:

Please enter your password:

If the wrong password is entered, an error message will be displayed. You have 3 chances to enter the correct password. After the third incorrect entry, the computer must be rebooted.

The <Ctrl><Alt><Del> key combination to reboot the system does not invoke the system password. If the system is rebooted using this key combination, it will not be necessary to reenter the password.

Changing an Existing Password

1. Turn the system off, then back on.
2. When prompted, enter the password.
3. Type y when the following message appears:

Do you want to change your password (Y or N)?

4. Enter the new password by following steps 4 and 5 in Enabling and Assigning a System Password.

Disabling a Forgotten Password

If a password is forgotten, it will need to cleared from NVRAM (in the RTC chip) before the system can be used again.

NOTE: When NVRAM is cleared, all System Setup categories revert to their defaults. Any options that have been changed will have to be reset.

1. Turn the system off.
2. Remove the jumper plug from W2, and put it on W5.
3. Turn the system on. Leave it on for 10 seconds, and then turn it off.
   Turning on the system with W5 jumpered clears NVRAM.
4. Remove the jumper plug from W5, and put it back on W2.
5. Turn the system on.
6. Enter the System Setup program, and reset any settings that had been cleared from NVRAM.
7. If a new password is needed, follow steps 3 through 5 in Enabling and Assigning a System Password.