NOTE: Passwords are disabled when you receive your computer.
A primary password prevents unauthorized access to the computer at start-up. You can use an administrator password instead of the primary password. A hard drive password helps prevent unauthorized access to data on the drive, even when the drive is installed in another computer.
NOTE: Only hard drives purchased from Dell for use with the Dell™ Latitude™ D-Family
computers support hard drive passwords.
NOTICE: Passwords provide a high level of security for data in your computer or hard drive.
However, they are not foolproof. If you require more security, obtain and use additional forms of
protection, such as smart cards, data encryption programs, or PC Cards with encryption
features.
If you forget any of your passwords, contact your system administrator or call Dell. For your protection, Dell technical support staff will ask you for proof of your identity to ensure that only an authorized person can use the computer.
The following table identifies types and features of passwords available on your computer.
The primary password allows you to protect the computer from unauthorized access.
After assigning a primary password, you must enter it each time you turn on your computer. The following message appears each time you turn on the computer:
Please type in the primary or administrator password and press
.
To continue, enter your password (maximum eight characters).
If you do not enter a password within 2 minutes, the computer returns to its previous state.
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.
NOTICE: If you disable the administrator password, the primary password is also disabled.
The administrator password is designed to give system administrators or service technicians access to computers for repair or reconfiguration. The administrators or technicians can assign identical administrator passwords to groups of computers, allowing you to assign the primary password.
When you set an administrator password, the Configure Setup option becomes available in the system setup program. The Configure Setup option allows you to restrict access to the system setup program in the same way a primary password restricts access to the computer.
The administrator password can be used instead of the primary password. Whenever you are prompted to enter the primary password, you can enter the administrator password.
NOTE: The administrator password provides access to the computer, but it does not provide
access to the hard drive when a hard drive password is assigned.
If you forget the primary password and do not have an administrator password assigned, or if you have both a primary and an administrator password assigned but forget them both, contact your system administrator or contact Dell.
NOTICE: If you disable the administrator password, the primary password is also disabled.
The hard drive password helps protect the data on your hard drive from unauthorized access. You can also assign a password for an external hard drive (if one is being used) that can be the same as or different from the password for the primary hard drive.
After assigning a hard drive password, you must enter it each time you turn on the computer and each time you resume normal operation from standbymode.
If the hard drive password is enabled, the following message appears each time you turn on the computer:
Please type in the hard-disk drive password and press
.
To continue, enter your password (maximum eight characters). Press
to return the computer to its previous state.
If you do not enter a password 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 First Device option in the system setup program is set to allow it. If the Boot First Device option is not set to allow booting from another device, the computer returns to the state it was in when you turned it on.
If the hard drive password, the external hard drive password, and the primary password are the same, you are prompted only for the primary password. If the hard drive password is different from the primary password, you are prompted for both. Two different passwords provide greater security.
NOTE: The administrator password provides access to the computer, but it does not provide
access to a hard drive that is protected by a hard drive password.
The Asset Tag utility allows you to enter an asset tag that you or your company assigns to the computer. After you enter an asset tag, the tag appears in the system setup screens.
You can also use the Asset Tag utility to enter an owner tag that appears in the system log-on screen and with the primary password prompt.
Use your Drivers and Utilities CD to create a bootable floppy disk, and then use the bootable floppy disk to assign an asset tag:
Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.
Connect the Dell™ D/Bay with a floppy drive to the powered USB connector on the
right side of the computer, or connect a USB floppy drive to one of the two USB
connectors on the back of the computer.
Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD.
When the Welcome Dell System Owner window appears, click Next.
Select MS-DOS from the Operating System drop-down menu.
Click Dell Portables Asset Tag, click Extract, and then click Setup.
Insert a blank floppy disk and press
.
Follow the instructions on the screen to create a bootable floppy disk.
Boot the computer using the bootable floppy disk:
Restart the computer.
Press
immediately after the DELL™ logo appears.
If the operating system logo appears, wait until you see the Windows desktop, and then shut down the computer and try again.
Press the arrow keys to select Diskette Drive and press
.
Type asset and a space followed by the new asset tag, and press
.
For example, type the following command line and press
:
asset 1234$ABCD&
NOTE: An asset tag can have up to 10 characters; any combination of characters excluding
spaces is valid.
When the computer prompts you to verify the asset tag, type y.
The computer displays the new or modified asset tag and the service tag.
Restart your computer to exit the Asset Tag utility.
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to return the computer to its previous state.
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immediately after the DELL™ logo appears.
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