Using the Password Features: Dell Dimension XPS P60 FS
Using the Password Features: Dell Dimension™ XPS P60 FS
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
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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.
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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.
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CAUTION: If the system is left running and unattended
without a system password assigned, anyone can access the
data stored in the system. |
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.
- Press <Del> to enter system setup and
press <Alt-P> to move to Page 2.
- Press <Tab> or <Shift><Tab>
to highlight System Password.
- 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.
- Type in the new system password.
- Press <Enter>.
- To confirm the password, type it in a second time and
then press <Enter>.
The password setting changes to Enabled.
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.
To disable an existing password, perform the following steps:
- Reboot the system to force it to prompt
for a system password.
- When prompted, type in the system
password.
- Instead of pressing <Enter> to
continue with the normal operation of the system, press
<Ctrl><Enter> to disable the existing system
password.
- 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.
- To assign a new password, follow the
procedure in Assigning
a System 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.
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.
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.
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.
The jumper setting on the system board must be changed as
follows:
- Turn off the system, and remove the cover.
- Move the jumper plug on the ENA/DIS PSWD
jumper to pins 2 and 3.
- Replace the computer cover, reconnect to
power sources, and turn it on.
Booting the system erases the old
password.
- Repeat step 1.
- Move the jumper plug on the ENA/DIS PSWD
jumper to pins 1 and 2.
- Replace the computer cover, reconnect to
power sources, and turn the system back on.
- Assign a new system and/or setup password.
See Assigning a System Password or Assigning a Setup Password.
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