Using the Password Feature: Dell Dimension� XPS Pro150n, Pro180n, and Pro200n
Using the Password Features: Dell Dimension XPS Pro150n,
Pro180n, and Pro200n
System Password Feature
| Assigning a System
Password | Using the
System Password | Changing an Existing
System Password | Setup
Password Feature | Assigning
a Setup Password | Using
the Setup Password | Changing an Existing
Setup 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 password and the setup password can be the same.
System Password
Feature
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.
When the System Password category is set to Enabled, the
computer system prompts the user for the system password just
after the system boots. To change an existing system password,
the user must know the password.
If the user assigns and then forgets a system password, the user
can still use the setup
password to gain access to the system. If the user forgets a
system password, the user must 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 Passwordcategory 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:
- Turn on (or reboot) the system, and press <Del> to
enter the system setup program.
- Press the <Alt><P> key combination to move to
Screen 2 of the system setup screens, and verify that
Password Status is set to Unlocked.
- 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.
- 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.
- Type the new system password.
The password can contain up to 7 characters. As the user
presses each character key (or the <Spacebar> 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.
- Press <Enter>.
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.
- To confirm the password, type it in a second time and
then press <Enter>.
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
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 <Enter> to leave password security enabled.
- press <Ctrl><Enter> to disable password security.
Enter password:
After entering the correct system password and pressing
<Enter>, 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:
- Enter the system setup program, and confirm that Password
Status is set to Unlocked.
- Boot the system and type the password as usual, but press
<Ctrl><Enter>.
- Enter the system setup program and confirm that Not
Enabled is displayed for the System Password category of
the system setup program.
If Not Enabled is not displayed for the System Password
category, press <Esc> to exit the program, and
repeat step 2.
- Assign a new
password.
Setup Password
Feature
The system is shipped with the setup 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.
When the System Password category is set to Enabled, the computer
system prompts the user for the setup password when the user
attempts to enter the system setup program.
To change an existing system password, the user must know the
password.
If the user assigns different passwords for the system password
and the setup password and then forgets the system password, the
user can still use the
setup password to gain access to the system. If the user
forgets a setup password, the user must disable the password
feature. Note that the system password is erased at the same
time.
Assigning a
Setup Password
The user should do the following:
- Enter the system setup program.
- Move to Screen 2 and select Setup Password.
- If the current status displayed is Not Enabled, press the
left- or right-arrow key. Then type the new setup
password (up to 7 characters).
As the user types the password, the characters on the
screen are hidden for security purposes. If the user
types an illegal character, the speaker beeps.
To exit the field without typing a password, press
<Tab>.
If the current status is already Enabled, the user must
disable the existing password before assigning a new one.
- Press <Enter>. Then confirm the password by typing
it again and pressing <Enter>
The password setting changes to Enabled. The setup
password is now operational; exit the system setup
program and use the system.
Using the Setup
Password
If Setup Password is set to Enabled, the user must enter the
correct setup password before modifying the majority of the
system setup categories.
When the user enters the system setup program, Screen 2 appears
with the Setup Password category highlighted, prompting the user
to enter the setup password.
If the user does not enter the correct password in 3 tries, the
system lets the user view, but not modify, the system setup
program categories, with the following exceptions:
- The user can still modify the Time, Date, CPU Speed, and
Num Lock categories.
- If System Password is set to Not Enabled, the user can
assign a system password. However, the user
cannot disable or change an existing system password.
Changing
an Existing Setup Password
The user should do the following:
- Enter the system setup program.
- Enter the current setup password. Then press the left- or
right-arrow key.
The setting changes to Not Enabled.
- Assign a new setup
password.
Disabling a
Forgotten Password
If the user forgets the system or setup password, the user
will be unable to operate the system or change settings in the
system setup program until the password is disabled. Disabling
the password involves removing the computer cover and changing a
jumper setting (twice) on the system board.
To disable a forgotten password, perform the following steps:
- Turn off the system, and remove the cover.
- Move the jumper plug from pins 27 and 29 to pins 25 and
27 to disable the password(s).
- Replace the computer cover and turn on the computer.
Powering up the system with the password jumper set to
the disabled position erases existing password(s). Before
assigning a new system and/or setup password, the user
must reset the password jumper to the enabled position.
- Turn off the computer and remove the cover.
- Place a jumper plug on pins 27 and 29 to enable the
password features.
- Replace the computer cover, and turn on the system.
- Assign a new system and/or setup password.
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