Dell 1950 owner manual Using the Setup Password

When the Password Status option is set to Locked whenever you turn on your system or reboot your system by pressing <Ctrl><Alt><Del>, type your password and press <Enter> at the prompt.

After you type the correct system password and press <Enter>, your system operates as usual.

If an incorrect system password is entered, the system displays a message and prompts you to re-enter your password. You have three attempts to enter the correct password. After the third unsuccessful attempt, the system displays an error message showing the number of unsuccessful attempts and that the system has halted and will shut down. This message can alert you to an unauthorized person attempting to use your system.

Even after you shut down and restart the system, the error message continues to be displayed until the correct password is entered.

NOTE: You can use the Password Status option in conjunction with the System Password and Setup Password options to further protect your system from unauthorized changes.

Deleting or Changing an Existing System Password

1When prompted, press <Ctrl><Enter> to disable the existing system password.

If you are asked to enter your setup password, contact your network administrator.

2Enter the System Setup program by pressing <F2> during POST.

3Select the System Security screen field to verify that the Password Status option is set to Unlocked.

4When prompted, type the system password.

5Confirm that Not Enabled is displayed for the System Password option.

If Not Enabled is displayed for the System Password option, the system password has been deleted. If Enabled is displayed for the System Password option, press the <Alt><b> key combination to restart the system, and then repeat steps 2 through 5.

Using the Setup Password

Read the information in the following sections to assign or change your setup password.

Assigning a Setup Password

You can assign (or change) a setup password only when the Setup Password option is set to Not Enabled. To assign a setup password, highlight the Setup Password option and press the <+> or <–>key. The system prompts you to enter and verify the password. If a character is illegal for password use, the system beeps.

NOTE: The setup password can be the same as the system password. If the two passwords are different, the setup password can be used as an alternate system password. However, the system password cannot be used in place of the setup password.

You can use up to 32 characters in your password.

As you press each character key (or the spacebar for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field.

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Using the System Setup Program