4-52 Dell PowerEdge 2100/180 and 2100/200 Systems User’s Guide
Save Changes & Exit
When you choose this option, the BIOS stores the
changes you have made in a complementary metal-oxide
semiconductor (CMOS), exits the System Setup pro-
gram, and reboots the system. When your system reboots,
the BIOS configures the system according to the selec-
tions stored in CMOS.
Exit Without Saving Changes
Exits the System Setup program without saving any of
the changes you have made.
Get Default Values
Loads the default values for each menu in the System
Setup program.
Load Previous Values
Loads the values previously stored in CMOS for each
menu.
Save Changes
Stores your changes in CMOS but does not exit the Sys-
tem Setup program.
Using the Password Features
Using the Supervisor Password Feature
Your Dell system is shipped to you with the supervisor
password set to Disabled, which allows you to enter the
System Setup program and assign a password. When the
Supervisor Password Is category is set to Enabled, the
computer system prompts you for the supervisor password
whenever you enter the System Setup program. If system
security is a concern, you should operate your system with
supervisor password protection.
You can assign a supervisor password, as described in the
next subsection, “Assigning a Supervisor Password,”
whenever you use the System Setup program. Once a
supervisor password is assigned, only those who know
the password have full use of the System Setup program.
To delete or change an existing supervisor password, you
must know the supervisor password (see “Deleting or
Changing an Existing Supervisor Password” found later
in this section).
NOTE: You can also assign, delete, or change a supervisor
password through the EISA Configuration Utility. See
“Assigning a Supervisor Password” and “Deleting or
Changing an Existing Supervisor Password” in Chapter 5.
If you assign and then forget a supervisor password, you
need your computer key to get inside the computer, where you
can change a jumper setting to disable the supervisor password
feature (see “Disabling a Forgotten Password” found later in
this section). Note that you erase the user password at the same
time.
NOTE: The system allows you three attempts to enter a
password. After three failed attempts, the keyboard locks
up and you must reboot the system before you can try
entering a password again.
Assigning a Supervisor Password
A supervisor password can be assigned only when the
Supervisor Password Is category is set to Disabled.
Press <Enter> to display a dialog box in which you can
enter the password. You can use up to seven alphanu-
meric characters in a password, and the password is not
case sensitive (meaning that there is no difference
between uppercase and lowercase characters).
NOTE: The supervisor password can be the same as the
user password. However, a user password cannot be set
until a supervisor password has been set.
After you verify the password, the Supervisor Password
Is setting changes to Enabled. The next time you attempt to
enter the System Setup program, the system prompts you for
the supervisor password.
CAUTION: The password features provide a
basic level of security for the data on your system.
However, they are not foolproof. If your data
requires more security, it is your responsibility to
obtain and use additional forms of protection,
such as data encryption programs.