DTA: Using the Password Feature
Using the Password Features
Assigning a System Password
Using the System Password to Secure the System
Changing an Existing System Password
Disabling a Forgotten Password
The password features provide a basic level of security for the data on the system. However, these features are not foolproof. If the system's data requires more security, it is the user's responsibility to obtain and use additional forms of protection.
The system is shipped with the system password feature set to NOT ENABLED, which allows the user to enter the system setup program and assign a password.
If system security is a concern, operate the system only with system password protection.
The user can assign a system password whenever using the system setup program. Once a system password is assigned, only those who know the password have full use of the system.
NOTE: The BOOT SEQUENCE category is affected by the setting chosen for the SYSTEM PASSWORD category.
When the SYSTEM PASSWORD category is set to ENABLED, the computer system prompts the user for the system password just before or just after the system boots, depending on which option the user selected in the PASSWORD ENTRY category.
To change an existing system password, the user must know the password.
If the user assigns and then forgets a system password, the user must remove the computer cover and change a jumper setting to disable the system password feature. Note that the setup password is erased at the same time.
Assigning a System Password
With a system password assigned, the status shown in the SYSTEM PASSWORD category is ENABLED. With the system password feature disabled by a jumper setting on the system board, the status shown is DISABLED BY JUMPER. The user cannot change or enter a new system password if either of these options is displayed.
With no system password assigned and with the password jumper on the system board in the enabled position (its default setting), the status shown in the SYSTEM PASSWORD category field is NOT ENABLED. Only when this option reads NOT ENABLED can the user assign a system password, using the following procedure:
1. Turn on (or reboot) the system, and press <DEL> to enter the system setup program.
2. Press the <ALT-P> key combination to move to Page 2 of the system setup screens.
3. Press the <TAB> key or the <SHIFT-TAB> key combination to highlight the SYSTEM PASSWORD category.
Highlighting the SYSTEM PASSWORD category causes help information related to the current password status to appear in the Help window.
4. If the current status displayed is NOT ENABLED, press the left- or right-arrow key.
The category heading changes to ENTER PASSWORD, followed by an empty 7-character field in square brackets.
5. Type the new system password.
The password can contain up to 7 characters.
As the user presses each character key (or the <SPACEBA>R for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field.
The password assignment operation recognizes keys by their location on the keyboard, without distinguishing between lowercase and uppercase characters. For example, if there is an "M" in the password, the system recognizes either "M" or "m" as correct.
Certain characters are not valid. If an invalid key character is entered, a beep will sound.
To erase a character when entering the password, press the <BACKSPACE> key or the left-arrow key.
To escape from the field without assigning a system password, press the <TAB> key or the <SHIFT-TAB> key combination to move the highlight to another field, or press the <ESC> key at any time before completing step 7.
6. Press <ENTE>R.
If the new system password contains fewer than 7 characters, the whole field fills with placeholders. Then the category heading changes to VERIFY PASSWORD, followed by another empty 7-character field in square brackets.
7. To confirm the password, type it in a second time and then press <ENTE>R.
The password setting changes to ENABLED. The system password is now operational; exit the system setup program and begin using the system.
Using the System Password to Secure the System
The system password is used to protect the system. When the system is turned off and on subsequently or the reset button is pressed, the following prompt appears on the screen:
Type the password and ...
- press <ENTE>R to leave password security enabled.
- press <CTRL><ENTE>R to disable password security.
Enter password:
After entering the correct system password and pressing <ENTE>R, the system boots and the keyboard can be used to operate the system as usual.
If a wrong or incomplete system password is entered, the following message appears on the screen:
** Incorrect password. **
Number of unsuccessful password attempts: 1
Enter the password again. If an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered again, the same message appears on the screen.
The third and subsequent times an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered, the system displays the following message:
** Incorrect password. **
Number of unsuccessful password attempts: 3
System halted! Must power down.
The number of unsuccessful attempts made to enter the correct system password can alert the user to an unauthorized person attempting to use the system.
Even after the system is turned off and on, the previous message is displayed each time an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered.
The user must enter the correct system password each time the system is rebooted using the <CTRL-ALT-DEL> key combination.
Changing an Existing System Password
To disable an existing password, perform the following steps:
1. Boot the system and type the password as usual, but press <CTRL-ENTE>R.
2. Enter the system setup program and confirm that NOT ENABLED is displayed for the SYSTEM PASSWORD category of the system setup program.
Reboot the system and press <DEL> to enter the system setup program. Then press the <ALT-P> key combination to move to Page 2 of the system setup screens. If NOT ENABLED appears in the SYSTEM PASSWORD category, go to step 5. If NOT ENABLED is not displayed for the SYSTEM PASSWORD category, press <ESC> to exit the program and reboot the system. Then repeat step 1 and 2.
3. Assign a new password by following the procedure in "Assigning a System Password."
Disabling a Forgotten Password
If the user forgets the system password, the user will be unable to operate your system or change settings in the system setup program until disabling the password. Disabling the password involves going inside the computer and changing a jumper setting (twice) on the system board.
To disable a forgotten password, perform the following steps:
1. Turn off the system, and remove the cover.
2. Move the jumper plug on jumper E to pins 1 and 2 to disable the password(s).
3. Turn on the computer. Powering up the system with jumper E set to the disabled position erases existing password(s). Before assigning a new system password, the user must reset jumper E to the enabled position.
5. Turn off the computer.
6. Place a jumper plug on pins 2 and 3 of jumper E to enable the password features.
7. Replace the computer cover.
8. Assign a new system password.
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