Dell NY105 Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

Securing Your Computer 71

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 contact Dell (see "Obtaining Assistance" on page 143).

The hard drive password helps protect the data on your hard drive from unauthorized access.

To assign or change a hard drive password, enter system setup (see "System Setup Program" on page97).

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/sleep mode.

If the hard drive password is enabled, you must enter it each time you turn on the computer: A message

appears asking for the hard drive password.

To continue, enter your password (with no more than eight characters) and press <Enter>.

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

If you enter the wrong password, a message tells you that the password is invalid. Press <Enter> to try

again.

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 the hard

drive when a hard drive password is assigned.

Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

NOTE: Computers shipping into China are not equipped with the TPM feature.

NOTE: The TPM feature may not be supported in all countries.

NOTE: The TPM feature supports encryption only if the operating system supports TPM. For more information, see

the TPM software documentation and the help files that came with the software.