Using Your System Password To Secure Your System - Dell OptiPlex Gn Reference And Installation Manual

category is set to Not Enabled can you assign a system
password, using the following procedure:
1. Verify that the Password Status category is set to
Unlocked.
For instructions on changing the setting for
Password Status, see "Password Status" found
earlier in this chapter.
2. Highlight the System Password category, and
then press the left- or right-arrow key.
The category heading changes to Enter Password,
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 <Spacebar>
for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field.
The password assignment operation recognizes keys
by their location on the keyboard, without distinguish-
ing between lowercase and uppercase characters. For
example, if you have an M in your password, the sys-
tem 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 entering 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 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 whole field fills with placeholders.
Then the category heading changes to Verify
Password, followed by another empty seven-
character field in square brackets.
5. To confirm your password, type it in a second
time and press <Enter>.
The password setting changes to Enabled
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 the Password Status
category 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 the Password Status category is set to Locked, the fol-
lowing 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 key-
board to operate your system as usual.
NOTES: The password security feature can be disabled
only when the Password Status category is set to Unlocked.
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 sys-
tem 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 pass-
word is entered again, the same message
appears on the screen.
The third and subsequent times an incorrect or incom-
plete system password is entered, the system displays the
following message:
Your
.
** Incorrect password. **
Number of unsuccessful password
attempts: 3
System halted! Must power down.
Using the System Setup Program 2-13