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Using System Setup: Dell Precision™ WorkStation 620 Systems User's Guide

	Overview		Using the System Password Feature
	Entering System Setup		Using the Setup Password Feature
	System Setup Screen		Disabling a Forgotten Password
	System Setup Navigation Keys

Overview

Each time you turn on your computer system or press the reset button, the system compares the hardware installed in the system to the hardware listed in the system configuration information stored in nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM) on the system board. If the system detects a discrepancy, it generates error messages that identify the incorrect configuration settings. The system then prompts you to enter System Setup to correct the setting.

You can use System Setup as follows:

• To change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any hardware in your system
  
  
• To set or change user-selectable options—for example, the time or date on your system

You can view the current settings at any time. When you change a setting, in many cases you must reboot the system before the change takes effect.

Dell has set up your system for optimal operation, and under most circumstances you should not have to change any of the settings. After you set up your system, run System Setup to familiarize yourself with your system configuration information and optional settings in case you need to change them. Dell recommends that you print the System Setup screens (by pressing <Print Screen>) or record the information for future reference.

Before you use System Setup, you need to know the kind of diskette drive(s) and hard-disk drive(s) installed in your computer. If you are unsure of this information, see the Manufacturing Test Report that was shipped with your system and is located in the Dell Accessories folder.

Entering System Setup

To enter System Setup, perform the following step  

1. Turn on your system.

   If your system is already on, shut it down, and then turn it on again.

2. When the Press <F2> to Enter Setup window appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, press <F2>.

If you wait too long and your operating system begins to load into memory, let the system complete the load operation; then shut down the system and try again.

NOTE: To ensure an orderly system shutdown, consult the documentation that accompanied your operating system.

System Setup Screen

The System Setup screen displays the current setup and configuration information and optional settings for your system. Information on the System Setup screen is organized in four areas:

• Title — The box at the top of all screens lists the system name.
  
  
• System data — The two boxes below the title box display your system processor, level 2 (L2) cache, service tag, and the version number of the basic input/output system (BIOS).
  
  
• Options — The main area of the screen is a scrollable window containing options that define the installed hardware in your computer and the power conservation and security features for your computer.

  Fields next to the options contain settings or values. You can change those values that appear bright on the screen. Options or values that you cannot change (because they are determined or calculated by the computer) appear less bright.

• Key functions — The line of boxes across the bottom of all screens lists keys and their functions within System Setup.

System Setup Navigation Keys

Table 1 lists the keys you use to view or change information on the System Setup screen and to exit the program.

Table 1. System Setup Navigation Keys

Keys	Action
or	Moves to the next field.
or	Moves to the previous field.
or	Cycles through the options in a field. In many fields, you can also type the appropriate value.
or	Scrolls through help information.
	Enters the selected field's pop-up options menu.
spacebar or    or	In the selected field's pop-up options menu, cycles through the options in a field.
	Saves the selected settings in a field's pop-up settings menu and returns to the main System Setup screen. For a few options (as noted in the help area) the changes take effect immediately. Exits the System Setup program at the System Setup screen if no settings in any option were changed. Provides the following exit menu options if changes were made. Highlight a menu option to select it, and press <Enter> to activate it. Save Changes and Exit exits the System Setup program and reboots the system, implementing any changes you have made. Discard Changes and Exit exits the System Setup program without saving your changes and resumes the boot routine. Return to Setup returns to the System Setup screen.
	Exits System Setup without rebooting the system and returns the system to its previous state—the boot routine.1
	Exits System Setup and reboots the system, implementing any changes you have made.
	Resets the selected option to its default setting.
	Displays help information for the selected option.

Using the System Password Feature

NOTICE: The password features provide a basic level of security for the data on your system. However, they are not foolproof. If your data requires more security, it is your responsibility to obtain and use additional forms of protection, such as data encryption programs.

Your Dell™ system is shipped to you without the system password feature enabled. If system security is a concern, you should operate your system only with system password protection.

You can assign a system password whenever you use the System Setup program. After a system password is assigned, only those who know the password have full use of the system.

When System Password is set to Enabled, the computer system prompts you for the system password just after the system boots.

To change an existing system password, you must either know the password or have access to the inside of the computer.

If you assign and later forget a system password, you need your computer key to get inside the chassis, where you can change a jumper setting to disable the system password feature. Note that you erase the setup password at the same time.

NOTICE: If you leave your system running and unattended without having a system password assigned or if you leave your computer unlocked so that someone can disable the password by changing a jumper setting, anyone can access the data stored on your hard-disk drive.

Assigning a System Password

Before you can assign a system password, you must enter the System Setup program and check the System Password status.

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. You cannot change or enter a new system password if either of these settings is displayed.

With no system password assigned and with the password jumper on the system board in the enabled position (the default), the status shown for System Password is Not Enabled. Only when System Password is set to Not Enabled can you assign a system password by performing the following steps:

1. Verify that Password Status is set to Unlocked.

   For instructions on changing the setting for Password Status, see "Password Status."

2. Press the left- or right-arrow key.

   The heading changes to Enter Password, followed by an empty seven-character field in square brackets.

3. Type the new system password.

   You can use up to seven characters in the password.

   As you press 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 you have an M in your password, the system recognizes either M or m as correct.

   Certain key combinations are not valid. If you enter one of these combinations, the speaker emits a beep.

   To erase a character when you enter your password, press the <Backspace> key or the left-arrow key.

   NOTE: 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 prior to completing step 5.

4. Press <Enter>.

   If the new system password is less than seven characters, the field fills with placeholders. Then the heading changes to Verify Password, followed by another empty seven-character field in square brackets.

5. To confirm your password, type it a second time and press <Enter>.

   The password setting changes to Enabled. Your system password is now set; you can exit the System Setup program and begin using your system. Note, however, that password protection does not take effect until you reboot the system by pressing the reset button or by turning the system off and then on again.

Using Your System Password to Secure Your System

Whenever you turn on your system, press the reset button, or reboot the system by pressing the <Ctrl><Alt><Del> key combination, the following prompt appears on the screen when Password Status is set to Unlocked:

Type in the password and...
- press <ENTER> to leave password security enabled.
- press <CTRL><ENTER> to disable password security.
Enter password:

If Password Status is set to Locked, the following prompt appears:

Type the password and press <ENTER>.

After you type the correct system password and press <Enter>, your system boots and you can use the keyboard to operate your system as usual.

NOTE: If you have assigned a setup password, the system accepts your setup password as an alternate system password.

If a wrong or incomplete system password is entered, the following message appears on the screen:

** Incorrect password. **
Enter password:

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 you that an unauthorized person has attempted to use your system.

Even after your system is turned off and on, the previous message is displayed each time an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered.

NOTE: You can use Password Status in conjunction with System Password and Setup Password to further protect your system from unauthorized changes.

Deleting or Changing an Existing System Password

To delete or change an existing system password, perform the following steps:

1. Enter the System Setup program and verify that Password Status is set to Unlocked.

   Enter the System Setup program by pressing the <Ctrl><Alt><Enter> key combination. Press the <Alt><p> key combination to move to Page 2 of the System Setup screens. For instructions on changing the setting for Password Status, see "Password Status."

2. Reboot your system to force it to prompt you for a system password.
   
   
3. When prompted, type the system password.
   
   
4. Press the <Ctrl><Enter> key combination to disable the existing system password, instead of pressing <Enter> to continue with the normal operation of your system.
   
   
5. Reboot the system and enter the System Setup program.
   
   
6. Confirm that Not Enabled is displayed for System Password in the System Setup program.

   If Not Enabled appears, the system password has been deleted. If you want to assign a new password, go to step 7.

   If Not Enabled is not displayed, press the <Alt><b> key combination to reboot the system, and then repeat steps 3 through 6.

7. Assign a system password.

Using the Setup Password Feature

Your Dell system is shipped to you without the setup password feature enabled. If system security is a concern, you should operate your system with setup password protection.

You can assign a setup password whenever you use the System Setup program. After a setup password is assigned, only those who know the password have full use of the System Setup program.

To change an existing setup password, you must know the setup password. If you assign and later forget a setup password, you need your computer key to get inside the chassis, where you can change a jumper setting to disable the password feature. Note that you erase the system password at the same time.

Assigning a Setup Password

A setup password can be assigned (or changed) only when Setup Password is set to Not Enabled. To assign a setup password, highlight Setup Password and press the left- or right-arrow key. The system prompts you to enter and verify the password. If a character is illegal for password use, the system emits a beep.

NOTES: The setup password can be the same as the system password. If the two passwords are different, the setup password can be used as an alternate system password. However, the system password cannot be used in place of the setup password.

After you verify the password, the Setup Password setting changes to Enabled. The next time you enter the System Setup program, the system prompts you for the setup password.

A change to Setup Password becomes effective immediately (rebooting the system is not required).

Operating With a Setup Password Enabled

If Setup Password is set to Enabled, you must enter the correct setup password before you can modify the majority of the System Setup options.

When you start the System Setup program, Page 2 of the System Setup screens appears with Setup Password highlighted, prompting you to type the password.

If you do not enter the correct password in three tries, the system lets you view, but not modify, the System Setup screens—with the following exceptions:

• You can still modify Date, Time, CPU Speed, Num Lock, and Speaker.
  
  
• If System Password is not enabled and is not locked via Password Status, you can assign a system password (however, you cannot disable or change an existing system password).
  
  

  NOTE: You can use Password Status in conjunction with Setup Password to protect System Password from unauthorized changes.

Deleting or Changing an Existing Setup Password

To delete or change an existing setup password, perform the following steps:

1. Enter the System Setup program.
   
   
2. Highlight Setup Password, and press the left- or right-arrow key to delete the existing setup password.

   The setting changes to Not Enabled.

3. If you want to assign a new setup password, follow the procedure in "Assigning a Setup Password."

Disabling a Forgotten Password

If you forget your system or setup password, you cannot operate your system or change settings in the System Setup program, respectively, until you open the computer, change the password jumper setting to disable the passwords, and erase the existing passwords.

To disable a forgotten password, perform the following steps:

CAUTION: Before you remove the computer cover, see "Safety First—For You and Your Computer."

1. Remove the computer cover.
   
   
2. Refer to "Jumpers" for jumper information and to Figure 2 in "Hardware Configuration Features" for the location of the password jumper (labeled "PSWD") on the system board.
   
   
3. Remove the jumper plug from the PSWD jumper (the disable setting).
   
   
4. Replace the computer cover.
   
   
5. Reconnect your computer to its electrical outlet and turn it on.

   Booting your system with the PSWD jumper plug removed erases the existing password(s).

   NOTE: Before you assign a new system and/or setup password, you must replace the PSWD jumper plug.

6. Remove the computer cover.
   
   
7. Replace the PSWD jumper plug (the enable setting).
   
   
8. Replace the computer cover, and then reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical outlets and turn them on.

   Booting with the PSWD jumper installed reenables the password features. When you enter the System Setup program, both password fields appear as Not Enabled, meaning that password protection is no longer available because no passwords have been assigned.

9. Assign a new system password and/or setup password.
   
   
10. Reset the chassis intrusion detector to Enabled or Enabled Silent.

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