Manuals

Passwords: Dell™ Latitude™ CP and CPi

Using a Primary Password | Setting, Changing, or Disabling a Primary Password | Using an Administrator Password | Setting, Changing, or Disabling an Administrator Password | Using a Hard-Disk Password | Setting, Changing, or Disabling a Hard-Disk Password | Forgetting a Password

Three types of optional passwords can be assigned:

• A primary password that prevents unauthorized access to the computer at start-up
  
• An administrator password that overrides the primary password
  
• A hard-drive password that helps prevent the unauthorized access of data on the hard-disk drive

All three passwords are disabled when the computer is shipped. You must assign those passwords if you require password security for your computer. Some companies may assign any or all of these passwords before distributing the computer.

NOTE: If you are using the Microsoft� Windows NT� operating system, use Page 2 of the System Setup program to assign all passwords.

Using a Primary Password

After assigning a primary password, you must enter it each time you turn on your computer. The following message appears:

Type the password and . . .

--Press <Enter> to leave password security enabled.

--Press <Ctrl> <Enter> to disable password security.

To continue, press <Enter>. If you want to erase the primary password, press <Ctrl><Enter>.

If you have assigned an administrator password, you can use it instead of the primary password. The computer does not specifically prompt you for the administrator password.

CAUTION: Disabling the administrator password also disables the primary password. See Setting, Changing, or Disabling an Administrator Password.

Setting, Changing, or Disabling a Primary Password

NOTE: If you are using Windows NT, use Page 2 of the System Setup program to assign all passwords.

1. Click the Security icon in the Dell Control Center to open the Security window.
   
   
2. Select the Set or Change Password button.
   
   A dialog box appears, prompting you to enter a password.
   
   
3. If you are disabling a password, press <Enter>. If you are setting or changing a password, type a password of at least 1 character, and press <Enter>.
   
   You can use up to 7 characters (including spaces) in your password. The computer makes no distinction between lowercase or uppercase letters. To erase a character when typing your password, press <Backspace>.
   
   

   NOTE: If you enter an invalid character, the computer beeps (if the system speaker is on).

4. When prompted to confirm the password, type the password again and press <Enter>.
   
   
5. To protect your computer from being started from a bootable diskette, click on the check box beside the Boot From Hard-Disk Drive Only option so that an X appears in the box.
   
   
6. Click OK.

Using an Administrator Password

The administrator password is designed to give system administrators or service technicians in large companies access to computers for repair or reconfiguration.

The administrator password overrides the primary password. Whenever the primary password prompt appears, the administrator password can be entered instead.

The administrator password does not override a hard-drive password.

If you forget the primary password and you do not have an administrator password assigned, or if you have both a primary and administrator password assigned and forget them both, call Dell.

CAUTION: Disabling the administrator password also disables the primary password. See Setting, Changing, or Disabling an Administrator Password.

 Setting, Changing, or Disabling an Administrator Password

NOTE: If you are using Windows NT, use Page 2 of the System Setup program to assign all passwords.

1. Click the Security icon in the Dell Control Center. If a primary or administrative password is assigned, a dialog box appears prompting you to enter the password.
   
   
2. Type the current password and press <Enter> to open the Security window.
   
   
3. Click the Administrator button and the Administrator Options window appears. From this window, you can change the asset tag code and the administrator password.
   
   
4. Click the Set or Change Administrator Password button.
   
   A dialog box appears, prompting you to enter a password.
   
   
5. If you are disabling the Administrator password, press <Enter>. If you are setting or changing the password, type a password of at least 1 character, and press <Enter>.
   
   You can use up to 7 characters (including spaces) in your password. The computer makes no distinction between lowercase or uppercase letters. To erase a character when typing your password, press <Backspace>.
   
   

   NOTE: If you enter an invalid character, the computer beeps (if the system speaker is on).

4. When prompted to confirm the password, type the password again and press <Enter>.
   
   
5. Select OK.

Using a Hard-Disk Password

The hard-disk drive password helps protect the data on your hard-disk drive from unauthorized access.

NOTE: Only hard-disk drives purchased from Dell for use with the Latitude CP and CPi systems support the hard-disk drive password option.

After assigning a hard-disk password, you must enter it each time you turn on the computer and each time you resume normal operation from suspend mode or suspend-to-disk mode.

If the hard-disk drive password is enabled, the following message appears each time you turn on the computer:

Please enter the hard-drive password
[Press <ESC> to abort]

To continue, enter the hard-disk drive password. Press <Esc> to return the computer to its previous state—off, suspend mode, or suspend-to-disk mode.

NOTE: If no password is entered within 2 minutes, the computer returns to its previous state.

If you enter the wrong password, the following message appears:

Invalid password
[Press <Enter> to retry

If the correct password is not entered in three attempts, the computer tries to boot from another bootable device if the Boot Sequence option in the System Setup program is set to allow it. If the Boot Sequence option is not set to allow booting from another device, the computer returns to the state it was in when you turned it on—off, suspend mode, or suspend-to-disk mode.

NOTE: If the hard-disk drive password and the primary password are the same, you are prompted for only the primary password. If the hard-disk drive password is different from the primary password, you are prompted for both. Two different passwords provide greater security. The administrator password does not override a hard-disk drive password.

Setting, Changing, or Disabling a Hard-Disk Password

NOTE: If you are using Windows NT, use Page 2 of the System Setup program to assign all passwords.

1. To enter the System Setup program, press <Fn><F1> (or <Scroll Lock> <F1> on an external keyboard if the External Hot Key option is enabled in the System Setup program).
   
2. Press <Alt><p> to go to Page 2 of the System Setup program.
   
3. Use the up- or down-arrow key to highlight Disk Password.
   
4. Press the left- or right-arrow key once.
   
5. If you are setting or changing a password, type a password and then press <Enter>. If you are disabling a password, enter the current password and press <Enter> twice.

   You can use up to eight characters (including spaces) in your password. The computer makes no distinction between lowercase or uppercase letters. As you enter each character, a placeholder appears in the field. To erase a character when typing your password, press <Backspace>.
   

6. When prompted to confirm the password, type the password again and press <Enter>.

Forgetting a Password

If you forget any of your passwords, call Dell. For your protection, Dell's technical support staff will ask you for proof of your identity to make sure that an unauthorized person is not trying to use the computer.