●An ideal password is long and has letters, punctuation, symbols, and numbers.

●Before you send your computer for service, back up your files, delete confidential files, and then remove all password settings.

For additional information about Windows passwords, such as screen-saver passwords, from the Start screen, access HP Support Assistant. To access HP Support Assistant, on the Start screen, select the HP Support Assistant app

Setting Windows passwords

Password

Function

 

 

User password

Protects access to a Windows user account. You may also

 

set up your computer to require the user password to exit

 

Sleep. See Setting password protection on wakeup

 

on page 52 for more information.

 

 

Administrator password

Protects administrator-level access to computer contents.

 

NOTE: This password cannot be used to access Setup

 

Utility (BIOS) contents.

 

 

Setting Setup Utility (BIOS) passwords

Password

Function

 

 

Administrator password

● Must be entered each time you access Setup Utility

 

(BIOS).

 

● If you forget your administrator password, you cannot

 

access Setup Utility (BIOS).

 

NOTE: The administrator password can be used in place of

 

the power-on password.

 

NOTE: Your administrator password is not interchangeable

 

with an administrator password set in Windows, nor is it

 

displayed as it is set, entered, changed, or deleted.

 

NOTE: If you enter the power-on password at the first

 

password check before the “Press the ESC key for Startup

 

Menu” message is displayed, you must enter the

 

administrator password to access Setup Utility (BIOS).

 

 

Power-on password

● Must be entered each time you turn on or restart the

 

computer.

 

● If you forget your power-on password, you cannot turn

 

on or restart the computer.

 

NOTE: The administrator password can be used in place of

 

the power-on password.

 

NOTE: A power-on password is not displayed as it is set,

 

entered, changed, or deleted.

 

 

66 Chapter 9 Securing your computer and information