Dell OptiPlex GXi Reference and Installation Guide ( - Page 35

Using Your System Password to Secure Your System, System Password

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With a system password assigned, the status shown in the System Password category is Enabled. With the system password feature disabled by a jumper setting on the system board, the option shown is Disabled By Jumper. You cannot change or enter a new system password if either of these options is displayed. With no system password assigned and with the password jumper on the system board in the enabled position (its default setting), the status shown for the System Password category is Not Enabled. Only when this category is set to Not Enabled can you assign a system password, using the following procedure: 1. Verify that the Password Status category is set to Unlocked. For instructions on changing the setting for Password Status, see "Password Status" found earlier in this chapter. 2. Highlight the System Password category, and then press the left- or right-arrow key. The category heading changes to Enter Password, followed by an empty seven-character field in square brackets. 3. Type your new system password. You can use up to seven characters in your password. As you press each character key (or the for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field. The password assignment operation recognizes keys by their location on the keyboard, without distinguishing between lowercase and uppercase characters. For example, if you have an M in your password, the system recognizes either M or m as correct. Certain key combinations are not valid. If you enter one of these combinations, the speaker emits a beep. To erase a character when entering your password, press the key or the left-arrow key. NOTE: To escape from the field without assigning a system password, press the key or the key combination to highlight another field or press the key at any time prior to completing step 5. 4. Press . If the new system password is less than seven characters, the whole field fills with placeholders. Then the category heading changes to Verify Password, followed by another empty seven-character field in square brackets. 5. To confirm your password, type it a second time and press . The password setting changes to Enabled. Your system password is now set; you can exit the System Setup program and begin using your system. Note, however, that password protection does not take effect until you reboot the system by pressing the reset button or by turning the system off and then on again. Using Your System Password to Secure Your System Whenever you turn on your system, press the reset button, or reboot the system by pressing the key combination, the following prompt appears on the screen when the Password Status category is set to Unlocked: Type in the password and... - press to leave password security enabled. - press to disable password security. Enter password: If the Password Status category is set to Locked, the following prompt appears: Type the password and press . After you type the correct system password and press , your system boots and you can use the keyboard and/or mouse to operate your system as usual. NOTE: If you have assigned a setup password (see "Using the Setup Password Feature" found later in this chapter), the system accepts your setup password as an alternate system password. Using the System Setup Program 2-11

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Using the System Setup Program
2-11
With a system password assigned, the status shown in the
System Password
category is Enabled. With the system
password feature disabled by a jumper setting on the
system board, the option shown is Disabled By
Jumper.
You cannot change or enter a new system
password if either of these options is displayed.
With no system password assigned and with the pass-
word jumper on the system board in the enabled position
(its default setting), the status shown for the System Pass-
word category is Not Enabled.
Only when this category
is set to Not Enabled can you assign a system password
,
using the following procedure:
1.
Verify that the Password Status category is set to
Unlocked.
For instructions on changing the setting for Pass-
word Status, see “Password Status” found earlier in
this chapter.
2.
Highlight the System Password category, and
then press the left- or right-arrow key.
The category heading changes to Enter Password,
followed by an empty seven-character field in square
brackets.
3.
Type your new system password.
You can use up to seven characters in your password.
As you press each character key (or the <Spacebar>
for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field.
The password assignment operation recognizes keys
by their location on the keyboard, without distin-
guishing between lowercase and uppercase
characters. For example, if you have an
M
in your
password, the system recognizes either
M
or
m
as
correct.
Certain key combinations are not valid. If you enter
one of these combinations, the speaker emits a beep.
To erase a character when entering your password,
press the <Backspace> key or the left-arrow key.
NOTE: To escape from the field without assigning a
system password, press the <Tab>
key or the
<Shift><Tab>
key combination to highlight another
field or press the <Esc> key at any time prior to
completing step 5.
4.
Press <Enter>.
If the new system password is less than seven char-
acters, the whole field fills with placeholders. Then
the category heading changes to Verify Password,
followed by another empty seven-character field in
square brackets.
5.
To confirm your password, type it a second time
and press <Enter>.
The password setting changes to Enabled
.
Your sys-
tem password is now set; you can exit the System
Setup program and begin using your system. Note,
however, that password protection does not take
effect until you reboot the system by pressing the
reset button or by turning the system off and then on
again.
Using Your System Password to Secure
Your System
Whenever you turn on your system, press the reset
button, or reboot the system by pressing the
<Ctrl><Alt><Del> key combination, the following
prompt appears on the screen when the Password Status
category is set to Unlocked:
Type in the password and...
— press <ENTER> to leave password
security enabled.
— press <CTRL><ENTER> to disable password
security.
Enter password:
If the Password Status category is set to Locked, the fol-
lowing prompt appears:
Type the password and press <Enter>.
After you type the correct system password and press
<Enter>, your system boots and you can use the keyboard
and/or mouse to operate your system as usual.
NOTE: If you have assigned a setup password (see
“Using the Setup Password Feature” found later in this
chapter), the system accepts your setup password as an
alternate system password.