You can use the Asset Tag utility to enter an asset tag number that you or your company assign to the computer; you can also use it to reenter the computer's service tag number if that becomes necessary.

Use the asset command from an MS-DOS prompt. To view existing asset tag and service tag numbers, type asset and press <Enter>. (You can also view the asset tag number by using the System Setup program described in Chapter 3.) To display the Asset Tag utility help screen, type asset /? and press <Enter>.

Assigning and Deleting an Asset Tag Number

An asset tag number can have up to ten characters; any combination of characters excluding spaces is valid. To assign or change an asset tag number, type asset and a space followed by the new number; then press < Enter>. For example, type the following command line and press <Enter>:

asset 1234$ABCD&

When prompted to verify the asset tag number, type y and press <Enter>. The system then displays the new or modified asset tag number and the service tag number.

To delete the asset tag number without assigning a new one, type asset /d and press <Enter>.

Assigning and Deleting an Owner Tag

You can use the Asset Tag Utility to assign an owner tag that will be displayed on the Dell logo screen whenever you boot your system.

An owner tag can be up to 80 characters; any combination of letters, numbers, and spaces is valid. To assign an owner tag, type asset /o and a space followed by the new owner tag; then press <Enter>. For example, type the following command line and press <Enter>:

asset /o ABC Company

When prompted to verify the owner tag, type y and press <Enter>. The system then displays the new owner tag.

To delete the owner tag without assigning a new one, type asset /o /d and press <Enter>.

Dell AutoShutdown Service

The Dell AutoShutdown service (available with the Windows NT 4.0 operating systems) provides the ability to perform an orderly system shutdown when the power button is pressed.

How AutoShutdown Works

The power button operates in two modes: immediate and AutoShutdown mode.

When the system is off, the power button always acts in immediate mode-that is, when the button is pressed, the system starts up immediately.

When the system is on and the AutoShutdown service is installed, the power button operates in AutoShutdown mode. Pressing the power button signals the service to perform an orderly operating system shutdown (reducing the possibility of data loss and file corruption) before removing power from the system. During the shutdown sequence, the power indicator on the front panel of the computer flashes.

NOTE: The presence of the AutoShutdown service does not affect the operation of the system reset button.

If Your Operating System Locks Up

If, when you press the power button, the power indicator begins to flash but the system does not turn off, your operating system may have locked up. (A locked-up operating system cannot perform a safe shutdown.)

To ensure that the system can be turned off under these circumstances, a manual intervention mechanism has been included in