Dell D600 About Passwords, Using a Primary Password, Using an Administrator Password

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Passwords

Dell™ Latitude™ D600 Systems User's Guide

About Passwords

Using a Primary Password

Using an Administrator Password

Using a Hard Drive Password

Assigning an Asset Tag

About Passwords

NOTE: Passwords are disabled when you receive your computer.

A primary password prevents unauthorized access to the computer at start-up. You can use an administrator password instead of the primary password. A hard drive password helps prevent unauthorized access to data on the drive, even when the drive is installed in another computer.

NOTE: Only hard drives purchased from Dell for use with the Dell™ Latitude™ D-Family computers support hard drive passwords.

NOTICE: Passwords provide a high level of security for data in your computer or hard drive. However, they are not foolproof. If you require more security, obtain and use additional forms of protection, such as smart cards, data encryption programs, or PC Cards with encryption features.

If you forget any of your passwords, contact your system administrator or call Dell. For your protection, Dell technical support staff will ask you for proof of your identity to ensure that only an authorized person can use the computer.

The following table identifies types and features of passwords available on your computer.

Type of Password Features

•Protects the computer from unauthorized access

Primary

	• Gives system administrators or service technicians access to computers for repair or reconfiguration
Administrator	• Allows you to restrict access to the system setup program in the same way a system password restricts access to the computer
	•	Can be used in place of the primary password
Hard drive	• Helps protect the data on your hard drive or external hard drive (if one is being used) from unauthorized access

Using a Primary Password

The primary password allows you to protect the computer from unauthorized access.

After assigning a primary password, you must enter it each time you turn on your computer. The following message appears each time you turn on the computer:

Please type in the primary or administrator password and press <Enter>.

To continue, enter your password (maximum of eight characters).

If you do not enter a password within 2 minutes, the computer returns to its previous operating state.

If you have assigned an administrator password, you can use it instead of the primary password. The computer does not specifically prompt you for the administrator password.

NOTICE: If you disable the administrator password, the primary password is also disabled.

Using an Administrator Password

The administrator password is designed to give system administrators or service technicians access to computers for repair or reconfiguration. The administrators or technicians can assign identical administrator passwords to groups of computers, allowing you to assign the primary password.

When you set an administrator password, the Configure Setup option becomes available in the system setup program. The Configure Setup option allows you to restrict access to the system setup program in the same way a primary password restricts access to the computer.

The administrator password can be used in place of the primary password. Whenever you are prompted to enter the primary password, you can enter the administrator password instead.