Password Features: Dell Dimension� XPS P90c/P100c/P120c/P133c/P150c/P166c
Using the System Password Feature: Dell Dimension XPS
P90c/P100c/P120c/P133c/P150c/P166c
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 systems data requires more security, it is the users
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.
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 in 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 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 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 <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.
7. 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 to Secure the System
How the system password is used to protect the system depends
upon the option chosen in the PASSWORD ENTRY category of
the system setup program.
If the subsequently or the reset button is BEFORE BOOT
default option is selected, when the system is turned off and on
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 the user enters the correct system password and presses <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.
If the AFTER BOOT option was selected, the user is not
prompted to enter a system password. The system completes the
boot sequence and loads or runs any programs that are normally
initiated during the boot sequence. The system ignores all keys
pressed on the keyboard until the user types the correct system
password and presses <ENTER>.
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. Force the computer system to prompt for a system password.
If the PASSWORD ENTRY category is not set to BEFORE BOOT, enter the system setup program and select the
BEFORE BOOT option. Then press <ESC> to exit the program and reboot the system.
2. When prompted, type in the system password.
3. Instead of pressing <ENTER> to continue with the normal operation of the system, press the
<CTRL-ENTER> key combination to disable the existing system password.
4. 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 steps 1 through 4.
5. To assign a new password, follow 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 the ENA/DIS PSWD jumper to pins 2 and 3 to disable the password(s).
3. Turn the computer on. Turning on the system with the ENA/DIS PSWD jumper set to the disabled position
erases existing password(s). Before assigning a new system password, the user must reset the ENA/DIS
PSWD jumper to the enabled position.
5. Turn the computer off.
6. Place a jumper plug on pins 1 and 2 of the ENA/DIS PSWD jumper to enable the password feature.
7. Replace the computer cover.
8. Assign a new system password.
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