Assigning A System Password; Using Your System Password To Secure Your System - Dell OptiPlex GXi Reference And Installation Manual

CAUTION: If you leave your system running and
unattended without having a system password
assigned or 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
category.
WORD
When a system password is assigned, the option shown in
the
SYSTEM PASSWORD
the system password feature is disabled by a jumper set-
ting on the system board, the option shown is
. You cannot change or enter a new system
BY JUMPER
password if either of these options is displayed.
When no system password is assigned and the password
jumper on the system board is in the enabled position (its
default setting), the option shown for the
category is
WORD NOT ENABLED
category is set to
NOT ENABLED
password, using the following procedure:
1. Verify that the
PASSWORD STATUS
to .
UNLOCKED
For instructions on changing the setting for
, see "Password Status" found earlier
WORD STATUS
in this chapter.
2. Highlight the
SYSTEM PASSWORD
then press the left- or right-arrow key.
The category heading changes to
followed by an empty seven-character field in square
brackets.
3. Type in your new system password.
You can use up to seven characters in your password.
As you press each character key (or the <
for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field.
The password assignment operation recognizes keys
by their location on the keyboard, without distin-
guishing between lowercase and uppercase
characters. For example, if you have an M in your
password, the system recognizes either M or m as
correct.
SYSTEM PASS-
category is . When
ENABLED
DISABLED
SYSTEM PASS-
. Only when this
can you assign a system
category is set
PASS-
category, and
ENTER PASSWORD
SPACEBAR
Certain key combinations are not valid. If you enter
one of these combinations, the speaker emits a beep.
To erase a character when entering your password,
press the <
BACKSPACE
NOTE: To escape from the field without assigning a
system password, press the <
< ><
SHIFT TAB
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 char-
acters, the whole field fills with placeholders. Then
the category heading changes to
followed by another empty seven-character field in
square brackets.
5. To confirm your password, type it in a second
time and press <
The password setting changes to
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 your system on, press the reset
button, or reboot the system by pressing the
< >< ><
CTRL ALT DEL
prompt appears on the screen:
,
Type in the password and ...
— press <ENTER> to leave password
security enabled.
— press <CTRL><ENTER> to disable password
security.
Enter password:
>
After you type the correct system password and press
< >, your system boots and you can use the key-
ENTER
board to operate your system as usual.
NOTE: If you have assigned a setup password (see
"Using the Setup Password Feature" found later in this
chapter), the system accepts your setup password as an
alternate system password.
Using the System Setup Program
> key or the left-arrow key.
> key or the
TAB
> key combination to move to another
>.
VERIFY PASSWORD
>.
ENTER
ENABLED.
> key combination, the following
,
Your
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