Securing Your Computer: Dell Latitude LS Portable Computers User's Guide

If you enter the wrong password, the following message appears:

Invalid password [Press Enter to retry]

If the correct password is not entered in three attempts, you receive a message stating that the hard-disk drive cannot be accessed. If the hard-disk drive is inaccessible and the boot options in the system setup program are set to allow booting from another device, the computer tries to boot from another device. If all boot attempts are unsuccessful, the computer prompts you to enter the system setup program and modify the boot options.

NOTES: If the hard-disk drive password is different from the user password, you are prompted for both. Two different passwords provide greater security.

The supervisor password provides access to the computer, but it does not provide access to the hard-disk drive when the drive is protected by a password.

Physically Securing the Computer and the Hard-Disk Drive

To prevent unauthorized removal of the computer, you can use a security cable to attach the computer to an immovable object. Your computer has a security cable slot located on the right side of the computer next to the hard-disk drive (see Figure 1).

Description of Security Cable Slots

The security cable slot allows you to attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer. Antitheft devices for portable computers usually include a segment of metal-stranded cable with an attached locking device and associated key. You can use a security cable on your computer whether it is undocked or docked in a Dell Latitude LS Advanced Port Replicator (APR).

Basic Instructions for Using Security Cable Slots

To prevent unauthorized removal of your computer, loop the cable around an immovable object, insert the locking device into the security cable slot, and lock the device. See Figure 1 for an example of how to secure your computer. Complete instructions for installing this kind of antitheft device are usually included with the device.

Figure 1. Securing the Computer

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Dell PP01S technical specifications Physically Securing the Computer and the Hard-Disk Drive