User Guide

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:

1. Remove the computer cover and disconnect the computer from its power source.
2. Turn on the (3) PASSWORD switch (the disable setting).
3. 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.

    

   NOTE: Before you assign a new system and/or setup password, you must turn the PASSWORD switch back off.

    

4. After the system has completed the boot routine, repeat step 1.
5. To reenable the password feature, turn off the PASSWORD switch (the enable setting).
6. Replace the computer cover, reconnect the computer and peripherals to their power sources,
   and turn them on.
7. Assign a new system and/or setup password by following the procedure in "Assigning a System Password."