Dell 7CX5T Installation And Service Manual page 60

Using your system password to secure the system
About this task
If you have assigned a setup password, the system accepts your setup password as an alternate system password.
Steps
1. Power on or reboot your system.
2. Type the system password and press Enter.
Next steps
When Password Status is set to Locked, type the system password and press Enter when prompted at reboot.
NOTE: If an incorrect system password is typed, the system displays a message and prompts you to reenter your
password. You have three attempts to type the correct password. After the third unsuccessful attempt, the system
displays an error message that the system has stopped functioning and must be turned off. Even after you turn off and
restart the system, the error message is displayed until the correct password is entered.
Deleting or changing system and setup password
Prerequisites
NOTE: You cannot delete or change an existing system or setup password if the Password Status is set to Locked.
Steps
1. To enter System Setup, press F2 immediately after turning on or restarting your system.
2. On the System Setup Main Menu screen, click System BIOS > System Security.
3. On the System Security screen, ensure that Password Status is set to Unlocked.
4. In the System Password field, change or delete the existing system password, and then press Enter or Tab.
5. In the Setup Password field, alter or delete the existing setup password, and then press Enter or Tab.
NOTE: If you change the system password or setup password, a message prompts you to reenter the new password.
If you delete the system password or setup password, a message prompts you to confirm the deletion.
6. Press Esc to return to the System BIOS screen. Press Esc again, and a message prompts you to save the changes.
7. Select Setup Password, change, or delete the existing setup password and press Enter or Tab.
NOTE: If you change the system password or setup password, a message prompts you to reenter the new password.
If you delete the system password or setup password, a message prompts you to confirm the deletion.
Operating with setup password enabled
If Setup Password is set to Enabled, type the correct setup password before modifying the system setup options.
If you do not type the correct password in three attempts, the system displays the following message:
Invalid Password! Number of unsuccessful password attempts: <x> System Halted! Must power
down.
Password Invalid. Number of unsuccessful password attempts: <x> Maximum number of password
attempts exceeded.System halted.
Even after you restart the system, the error message is displayed until the correct password is typed. The following options are
exceptions:
• If System Password is not set to Enabled and is not locked through the Password Status option, you can assign a system
password. For more information, see the
• You cannot disable or change an existing system password.
60 Pre-operating system management applications
System Security Settings details section.