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Passwords and Security: Dell Latitude C600/C500 User's Guide
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Passwords and Security: Dell™ Latitude™ C600/C500
User's Guide
A primary password prevents unauthorized access to the computer at
start-up. An administrator password can be used in place of the primary password. A
hard-disk drive password helps prevent the unauthorized access of data on the hard-disk
drive, even when the device is placed into another computer.
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NOTES: All three passwords are disabled when you
receive your computer. You need to assign those passwords if you require password security
for your computer. Some companies may assign any or all of these passwords before
distributing the computer. |
| NOTICE: The password features provide a high
level of security for the data in your computer or hard-disk drive. However, they are not
foolproof. If your data requires more security, you should obtain and use additional forms
of protection, such as data encryption programs or PC Cards with encryption features. |
If you forget any of your passwords, call Dell.
For your protection, Dell’s technical support staff will ask you for proof of your
identity to make sure that an unauthorized person is not trying to use the computer.
The primary password allows you to protect the computer from
unauthorized access.
After assigning a primary password, you must enter it each time you
turn on your computer. The following message appears each time you turn on the computer:
Please type in the primary or administrator password and press
<Enter>.
To continue, type your password and press <Enter>.
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NOTE: If no password is entered within 2 minutes,
the computer returns to its previous state. |
If you have assigned an administrator password, you can use it
instead of the primary password. The computer does not specifically prompt you for the
administrator password.
| NOTICE: If you disable the administrator
password, the primary password is also disabled. |
The administrator password is designed to give system administrators
or service technicians in large companies access to computers for repair or
reconfiguration. The administrators or technicians can assign identical administrator
passwords to groups of computers as they are unpacked and configured, leaving the primary
password free to be assigned by the user.
When you set an administrator password, the Configure Setup option becomes available in
the system setup program. The Configure Setup option allows you to restrict access
to the system setup program in the same way a system password restricts access to the
system.
The administrator password can be used in place of the primary
password. Whenever you are prompted to enter the primary password, you can enter the
administrator password instead.
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NOTE: The administrator password provides access
to the system, but it does not provide access to the hard-disk drive when it is protected
by a password. |
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, call Dell.
NOTICE: If you disable the administrator
password, the primary password is also disabled.
The hard-disk drive password helps protect the data on your
hard-disk drive from unauthorized access. You can also assign a password for the modular
hard-disk drive (if one is being used) that can be the same as or different from the
password for the primary hard-disk drive.
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NOTE: Only hard-disk drives purchased from Dell
for use with the Latitude C-Family portable computers support the hard-disk drive password
option. |
After assigning a hard-disk drive password, you must enter it each
time you turn on the computer and each time you resume normal operation from suspend mode
or standby mode.
If the hard-disk drive password is enabled, the following message
appears each time you turn on the computer:
Please type in the hard-disk drive password and press
<Enter>.
To continue, enter the hard-disk drive password. Press <Esc>
to return the computer to its previous state—suspend or standby mode.
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NOTE: If no password is entered within 2 minutes,
the computer returns to its previous state. |
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, the
computer tries to boot from another bootable device if the Boot First device option
in the system setup program is set to allow it. If the Boot First device option is
not set to allow booting from another device, the computer returns to the state it was in
when you turned it on—suspend or standby mode.
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NOTES: If the hard-disk drive password, the
modular hard-disk drive password, and the primary password are the same, you are prompted
only for the primary password. If the hard-disk drive password is different from the
primary password, you are prompted for both. Two different passwords provide greater
security. The administrator password provides access
to the system, but it does not provide access to the hard-disk drive when it is protected
by a password. |
The Asset Tag utility allows you to enter an asset tag number that
you or your company assigns to the computer. The default system setup screens do not show
the asset tag number unless you enter one by using this utility.
You can also use the Asset Tag utility to enter an owner tag that
appears in the system log-on screen and with the primary password prompt.
Viewing Existing Asset Tag and Service Numbers
To view existing asset tag and service tag numbers, perform the
following steps:
- Boot the computer from a bootable diskette or CD-ROM.
- Type cd c:\Dell\Util and press <Enter>.
- Type asset
and press <Enter>.
Assigning 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, perform
the following steps:
- Boot the computer from a bootable diskette or CD-ROM.
- Type cd c:\Dell\Util and press <Enter>.
- Type asset
and a space followed by the new number, and press <Enter>.
For example, type the following command line and press <Enter>:
asset 1234$ABCD&
- When the system prompts you to verify the asset tag number, type y and press <Enter>.
The system displays the new or modified asset tag number and the service tag number.
Deleting an Asset Tag Number
To delete the asset tag number without assigning a new one, perform
the following steps:
- Boot the computer from a bootable diskette or CD-ROM.
- Type cd c:\Dell\Util and press <Enter>.
- Type asset /d and press <Enter>.
Assigning an Owner Tag
An owner tag can have up to 48 characters; any combination of
letters, numbers, and spaces is valid. To assign an owner tag, perform the following
steps:
- Boot the computer from a bootable diskette or CD-ROM.
- Type cd c:\Dell\Util and press <Enter>.
- Type asset /o and a space followed by the new owner tag, and press <Enter>.
For example, type the following command line and press <Enter>:
asset /o ABC Company
- When the system prompts you to verify the owner tag, type y and press <Enter>.
The system displays the new owner tag.
Deleting an Owner Tag
To delete the owner tag without assigning a new one, perform the
following steps:
- Boot the computer from a bootable diskette or CD-ROM.
- Type cd c:\Dell\Util and press <Enter>.
- Type asset /o /d and press <Enter>.
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NOTE: For security, you cannot set, change, or
delete the owner tag if the primary or administrator passwords are set. |
Table 1 lists the command-line options you
can use with the Asset Tag utility. To use one of these options, open an MS-DOS® prompt,
type asset and a space followed
by the option, and then press <Enter>.
Table 1. Asset Tag Utility Command-Line
Options
Asset Tag
Option |
Description |
| /d |
Deletes the asset tag number |
| /o tag |
Specifies a new owner tag |
| /o /d |
Deletes the owner tag |
| /? |
Displays the Asset Tag utility help screen |
To prevent unauthorized removal of the computer, you can use a
security cable to attach the computer to an immovable object. Your computer has one
security cable slot, located on the left side of the computer—between the speaker and
the hard-disk drive (see Figure 1).
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.
Basic Instructions for Using the Security Cable Slot
To prevent unauthorized removal of your computer, loop the cable
around an immovable object, insert the locking device into the security cable slots, 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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NOTE: Antitheft devices are of differing designs.
Before purchasing such a device, make sure that it will work with the security cable slot
in your computer. |
Security and Docking Device
If your computer is installed in a Dell Latitude docking device, use
the security cable slot on the docking device to secure the computer. See your docking
device User's Guide for the location of the security slot.
You can use the security cable slot to secure your computer when it
is not docked to a Dell Latitude docking device. However, to lock your computer and
prevent unauthorized removal of the hard-disk drive, insert the locking device into the
security cable slot located between the hard-disk drive and the speaker, and lock the
device with its associated key.
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