Using the Password Features
Using the System Password Feature
Assigning a System Password
Using the System Password to Secure the System
Changing an Existing System Password
Assigning a Setup Password
Operating With a Setup Password Enabled
Disabling a Setup Password
Changing an Existing Setup Password
Disabling a Forgotten Password
Using the System Password Feature
NOTE: The password features provide a basic level of security for the data on the system. However, they are not foolproof.
The system is shipped with the system password feature NOT ENABLED, so that the system setup program can be entered and a password assigned.
NOTE: BOOT SEQUENCE and PASSWORD ENTRY are affected by the setting chosen for SYSTEM PASSWORD.
When the SYSTEM PASSWORD category is set to ENABLED, the computer system prompts for the system password just after the system boots.
The password must be available to change an existing system password.
If a system password is forgotten, remove the computer cover and change the jumper setting to disable the system password feature. See Disabling a Forgotten Password. Note that the setup password is erased at the same time.
CAUTION: If the system is left running and unattended without a system password assigned, anyone can access the data stored in the system.
Assigning a System Password
With a system password assigned, the status shown in SYSTEM PASSWORD is ENABLED. With the system password feature disabled by a jumper setting on the system board, the status shown is DISABLED BY JUMPER. A new system password cannot be changed or entered if either of these options is displayed.
With no system password assigned and with the password jumper on the system board in the enable position (default), the status shown for SYSTEM PASSWORD is NOT ENABLED. Only when NOT ENABLED is displayed can a system password be assigned.
1. Press <DEL> to enter system setup and press <ALT-P> to move to Page 2.
2. Press <TAB> or <SHIFT-TAB> to highlight SYSTEM PASSWORD.
3. If NOT ENABLED is displayed, press the left- or right-arrow key.
The category heading changes to ENTER PASSWORD, followed by an empty 7-character field.
4. Type in the new system password.
5. Press <ENTER>.
6. To confirm the password, type it in a second time and then press <ENTER>.
The password setting changes to ENABLED.
Using the System Password to Secure the System
If BEFORE BOOT was selected, after the system is turned off and on or rebooted, the following prompt appears:
Type in 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.
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. After the 3rd incorrect attempt, the following message appears:
** Incorrect password. **
Number of unsuccessful password attempts: 3
System halted! Must power down.
If AFTER BOOT was selected, the system password does not have to be entered immediately. The system completes the boot sequence and loads or runs any programs that are normally initiated during the boot sequence.
Changing an Existing System Password
To disable an existing password, perform the following steps:
1. Reboot the system to force it to prompt for a system password.
2. When prompted, type in the system password.
3. Instead of pressing <ENTER> to continue with the normal operation of the system, press <CTRL-ENTER
> to disable the existing system password.
4. Confirm that NOT ENABLED is displayed for the SYSTEM PASSWORD category of the System Setup program.
Enter the System Setup program by pressing <DEL>. Press <ALT-P> to move to Page 2. If NOT
ENABLED appears in the SYSTEM PASSWORD category, go to step 5. If NOT ENABLED is not displayed, press
<ESC> to exit the program and reboot the system. Repeat steps 1 through 4.
5. To assign a new password, follow the procedure in Assigning a System Password.
Assigning a Setup Password
A setup password can be assigned (or changed) only when the SETUP PASSWORD category is set to NOT ENABLED. To assign a setup password, highlight the SETUP PASSWORD category and press the left- or right-arrow key. Enter and verify the password. If a character is illegal for password use, the system emits a beep. The setup password can be the same as the system password.
After the password is verified, the SETUP PASSWORD setting changes to ENABLED. From this point on, the system setup program prompts for the setup password.
Operating With a Setup Password Enabled
When SETUP PASSWORD is ENABLED, the setup password must be typed in before the majority of the system setup categories can be modified (with the exceptions listed below).
DATE, TIME, CPU SPEED, and NUM LOCK categories can still be modified.
If SYSTEM PASSWORD is not enabled, a system password can still be assigned.
Disabling a Setup Password
Enter the system setup program, highlight the SETUP PASSWORD category, and press the left- or right-arrow key. The setting changes to NOT ENABLED. Now a setup password can be assigned or the system can be operated with no password assigned.
Changing an Existing Setup Password
Enter the system setup program, and disable the current password as described in Disabling a Setup Password.
With the SETUP PASSWORD category set to NOT ENABLED, assign a new setup password as described in Assigning a Setup Password.
Disabling a Forgotten Password
The jumper setting on the system board must be changed as follows:
1. Turn off the system, and remove the cover.
2. Move the jumper plug on the ENA/DIS PSWD jumper to pins 2 and 3.
3. Replace the computer cover, reconnect to power sources, and turn it on.
Booting the system erases the old password.
4. Repeat step 1.
5. Move the jumper plug on the ENA/DIS PSWD jumper to pins 1 and 2.
6. Replace the computer cover, reconnect to power sources, and turn the system back on.
7. Assign a new system and/or setup password. See Assigning a System Password or Assigning a Setup
Password.