System Password Feature: Dell Dimension� P75t, P90t, P100t, P133t Midsize
System Password Feature: Dell Dimension P75t, P90t, P100t,
P133t Midsize
Assigning a System
Password | Using the
System Password to Secure the System | Deleting
or Changing an Existing System Password | Disabling a Forgotten
Password
The password features provide a basic level of security for
data on the system. However, these features are not foolproof. If
the data requires more security, it is the user's responsibility
to obtain and use additional forms of protection.
Assigning a
System Password
Use the following procedure to assign a system password:
1. Turn on the system, and press <DEL> when prompted
to enter the system setup program.
2. Press the <ALT-P> key combination to move to
Screen 2 of the system setup screens.
3. Press the <TAB> key or the <SHIFT-TAB>
key combination to highlight the SYSTEM PASSWORD category.
4. If the status is NOT ENABLED, press the left- or
right-arrow key to change the heading to ENTER PASSWORD.
5. Type in the new system password (up to 7 characters in
length).
The password-assignment operation does not recognize keys as
lowercase or uppercase.
Certain key combinations are not valid. If an invalid key
combination 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 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 <ENTER>.
If the new system password contains fewer than 7 characters, the
field fills with placeholders and the heading changes to VERIFY
PASSWORD.
7. To confirm the password, type the password again and then
press <ENTER>.
The password setting changes to ENABLED. The system
password is now operational.
Using the System Password to Secure the System
When the system is turned off and on or rebooted, the system
requires that the user type in the correct password at the prompt
below:
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 user can operate the keyboard as usual.
The password feature allows for a wrong or incomplete system
password to be entered up to 3 times, and then the system
displays the following message:
** Incorrect password. **
Number of unsuccessful password attempts: 3
System halted! Must power down.
Even after the system is turned off and on, the previous
message is displayed each time an incorrect or incomplete system
password is entered.
Deleting or Changing an Existing System Password
To delete or change an existing password, perform the
following steps:
1. Boot the system, type the password, and then press <CTRL-ENTER>.
2. 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 Screen 2 of the system setup screens. If NOT
ENABLED appears in the SYSTEM PASSWORD category, go to
step 3. If NOT ENABLED is not displayed for the SYSTEM
PASSWORD category, press <ESC> to exit the
program and reboot the system. Then repeat steps 1 and 2.
3. To assign a new password, follow the procedure in "Assigning a System Password."
Disabling a
Forgotten Password
If you forget your system or
setup password, you will be unable to operate your system or
change settings in the system setup program, respectively, until
you disable the password feature and erase the existing
password(s). Disabling the password features involves removing
the computer cover and changing the setting (twice) of the
PASSWORD switch on the system board.
To disable a forgotten
password, perform the following steps:
- Remove the computer cover
and disconnect the computer from its power source.
- Turn on the (3) PASSWORD switch (the disable setting).
- Replace the computer cover
, reconnect your computer to its power source, and turn
it on.
Booting your system with the PASSWORD switch turned on
erases the existing password(s) through the system
hardware.
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NOTE:
Before you assign a new system and/or setup
password, you must turn the PASSWORD switch back
off. |
- After the system has
completed the boot routine, repeat step 1.
- To reenable the password
feature, turn off the PASSWORD switch (the enable
setting).
- Replace the computer
cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their
power sources,
and turn them on.
- Assign a new system and/or
setup password by following the procedure in
"Assigning a
System Password."
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