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8
Password security and resetting BIOS
This computer supports security password features, which can be established through the Computer Setup
Utilities menu.
This computer supports two security password features that are established through the Computer Setup
Utilities menu: administrator password and power-on password. When you establish only an administrator
password, any user can access all the information on the computer except Computer Setup. When you
establish only a power-on password, the power-on password is required to access Computer Setup and any
other information on the computer. When you establish both passwords, only the administrator password will
give you access to Computer Setup.
When both passwords are set, the administrator password can also be used in place of the power-on
password as an override to log in to the computer. This is a useful feature for a network administrator.
If you forget one or both passwords, you can clear all passwords by powering off the system, opening the
cover, temporarily removing the PSWD jumper, and booting once. This will erase the administrator and
power-on passwords. You must restore the jumper to create new passwords.
CAUTION:
may be useful to back up the BIOS settings or save them as custom defaults before resetting them in case
they are needed later. Back up can be performed in Computer Setup or using the BiosConfigUtility tool
available from www.hp.com.
Resetting the password/BIOS jumper
CAUTION:
enabled, removing the password jumper will be ignored. To enable this mode, change the security setting
Clear Password Jumper in Password Policies to Ignore.
If you lose or forget the password when in stringent security mode, the system can only be reset by System
Management Command. This is a way for HP Service and Support to provide a secure method to access the
BIOS and command a password reset for a specifically identified unit under the direction of the owner. This
scenario may not be covered under warranty.
To prevent needing a customer service event to restore access to the system, record your configured
administrator and power-on passwords in a safe place away from your computer.
Resetting the password jumper will reset BIOS values to factory defaults. It is important to back up the
computer BIOS settings before resetting them in case they are needed later. Back up is easily done through
Computer Setup. See
settings.
NOTE:
You will receive POST error messages after clearing BIOS and rebooting advising you that
configuration changes have occurred. Use Computer Setup to reset any special system setups along with the
date and time.
On Intel systems with advanced manageability features, resetting the BIOS will also partially unprovision AMT.
To disable the power-on or administrator password features, or to clear the power-on password,
administrator password, or BIOS, complete the following steps:
78
Chapter 8 Password security and resetting BIOS
Pushing the BIOS button with power removed will reset the BIOS settings to factory defaults. It
Stringent security is a mode where there is no physical bypass of the password function. If
Computer Setup (F10) Utility on page 34
for information on backing up the BIOS
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