Using A Hard Drive Password - Dell Precision M20 User Manual

access to system setup in the same way that a primary password restricts access to the computer.
The administrator password can be used instead of the primary password. Whenever you are prompted to enter the primary password, you can enter the
administrator password.
NOTICE: If you disable the administrator password, the primary password is also disabled.
NOTE: The administrator password provides access to the computer, but it does not provide access to the hard drive when a hard drive password is
assigned.
If you forget the primary password and do not have an administrator password assigned, or if you have both a primary and an administrator password
assigned but forget them both, contact your system administrator or
Using a Hard Drive Password
The hard drive password helps protect the data on your hard drive from unauthorized access. You can also assign a password for an external hard drive (if
one is being used) that can be the same as or different from the password for the primary hard drive.
After assigning a hard drive password, you must enter it each time you turn on the computer and each time you restore the computer to normal operation
from standby mode.
If the hard drive password is enabled, the following message appears each time you turn on the computer:
Please type in the hard-disk drive password and press <Enter>.
To continue, enter your password (with no more than eight characters). Press <Esc> to return the computer to its previous operating state.
If you do not enter a password within 2 minutes, the computer returns to its previous operating state.
If you enter the wrong password, the following message appears:
Invalid password
[Press Enter to retry]
If you do not enter the correct password in three attempts, the computer tries to start from another bootable device if the Boot First Device option in system
setup is set to allow start-up from another device. If the Boot First Device option is not set to allow the computer to start from another device, the computer
returns to the operating state it was in when you turned it on.
If the hard drive password, the external hard-drive password, and the primary password are the same, the computer prompts you only for the primary
password. If the hard drive password is different from the primary password, the computer prompts you for both. Two different passwords provide greater
security.
NOTE: The administrator password provides access to the computer, but it does not provide access to a hard drive that is protected by a hard drive
password.
Assigning an Asset Tag
NOTE: Some of these features may not be available for your computer or in certain countries.
The Asset Tag utility allows you to enter an asset tag that you or your company assigns to the computer. After you enter an asset tag, the tag appears in the
system setup screens.
You can also use the Asset Tag utility to enter an owner tag that appears in the system log-on screen and with the primary password prompt.
Download the Dell Portables Asset Tag utility from the support.dell.com website to create bootable media (such as a bootable CD or floppy disk), and then
use the bootable media to assign an asset tag.
NOTE: The Dell Portables Asset Tag utility may not be available as a download in certain countries.
1. Save and close any open files and exit any open programs.
2. Ensure that you have a drive for the bootable media (such as a floppy drive or a CD drive).
3. Access the support.dell.com website. Download the Dell Portables Asset Tag utility for your system. Unzip the files and run the Asset Tag utility to
create the bootable media.
4. Boot the computer, using the bootable media:
a. Restart the computer.
b. Press <F12> immediately after the DELL™ logo appears.
If the operating system logo appears, wait until you see the Microsoft® Windows® desktop, and then shut down the computer and try again.
c. Press the arrow keys to select the drive containing the bootable media and press <Enter>.
5. Type asset and a space followed by the new asset tag, and press <Enter>.
contact Dell.