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Password Protection

Dell Precision™ WorkStation 530 User's Guide

The computer provides the following types of password protection:

• System password
  
  
• Setup password
  
  

System Password

• Assigning a system password
  
  
• Using your system password
  
  
• Deleting or changing an existing system password
  
  

System passwords allow only those who know the password to have full use of the computer. Your computer does not have the system password feature enabled when you receive it.

NOTICE: Although passwords provide security for the data on your computer, they are not foolproof. If your data requires more security, it is your responsibility to obtain and use additional forms of protection, such as data encryption programs.

NOTICE: If you leave your computer running and unattended without having a system password assigned, or if you leave your computer unlocked so that someone can disable the password by changing a jumper setting, anyone can access the data stored on your hard drive.

System Password settings in system setup:

NOTE: You cannot change or enter a new system password if either Enabled or Disabled is displayed. You can only assign a system password when System Password is set to Not Enabled.

• Enabled — a system password is assigned
  
  
• Disabled — system password feature is disabled by a jumper setting on the system board
  
  
• Not Enabled — no system password is assigned and the password jumper on the system board is in the enabled position (its default)
  
  

Assigning a System Password

1. Verify that Password Status is set to Unlocked.
   
   
2. Highlight System Password and then press the left- or right-arrow key.
   
   

The option heading changes to Enter Password, followed by an empty 32-character field in square brackets.

3. Type your new system password.
   
   

You can use up to 32 characters.

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 distinguishing between lowercase and uppercase characters. For example, if you have an M in your password, the computer 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 <Backspace> or the left-arrow key.

NOTE: To escape from the field without assigning a system password, press <Tab> or the <Shift><Tab> combination to move to another field, or press <Esc> at any time before completing step 5.

4. Press <Enter>.
   
   

If the new system password is less than 32 characters, the whole field fills with placeholders. Then the option heading changes to Verify Password, followed by another empty 32-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 system password is now set; you can exit system setup and begin using your computer. Password protection takes effect when you restart the computer.

Using Your System Password

When you start up the computer, the following prompt appears on the screen when Password Status 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 Password Status is set to Locked, the following prompt appears:

Type the password and press <Enter>.

NOTE: If you have assigned a setup password, the computer accepts your setup password as an alternate system password.

If you enter a wrong or incomplete system password, the following message appears on the screen:

** Incorrect password. **

Enter password:

If you again enter an incorrect or incomplete system password, the same message appears on the screen. The third and subsequent times you enter an incorrect or incomplete system password, the computer displays the following message:

** Incorrect password. **
Number of unsuccessful password attempts: 3
System halted! Must power down.

Even after your computer is turned off and on, the previous message is displayed each time an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered.

NOTE: To further protect your computer from unauthorized changes, you can use the Password Status system setup option in conjunction with the System Password and Setup Password options.

Deleting or Changing an Existing System Password

1. Enter system setup, and verify that Password Status is set to Unlocked.
   
   
2. Reboot your computer to force it to prompt you for a system password.
   
   
3. When prompted, type the system password.
   
   
4. Press <Ctrl><Enter> to disable the existing system password, instead of pressing <Enter> to continue with the normal operation of your computer.
   
   
5. Confirm that Not Enabled is displayed for the System Password option.
   
   

If Not Enabled appears in the System Password option, the system password has been deleted. If you want to assign a new password, continue to step 6. If Not Enabled is not displayed for the System Password option, press <Alt><B> to reboot the computer, and then repeat steps 3 through 5.

6. To assign a new password, follow the procedure in "Assigning a System Password."
   
   

Setup Password

• Assigning a setup password
  
  
• Operating your computer with a setup password enabled
  
  
• Deleting or changing an existing setup password
  
  
• Disabling system and setup passwords
  
  

Setup passwords allow only those who know the password to have full use of system setup. Your computer does not have the setup password feature enabled when you receive it.

Setup Password options in system setup:

• Enabled — does not allow assignment of setup passwords; users must enter a setup password to make changes to system setup
  
  
• Not Enabled — allows assignment of setup passwords; password feature is enabled but no password is assigned
  
  

Assigning a Setup Password

1. Enter system setup, and verify that Setup Password is set to Not Enabled.
   
   
2. Highlight Setup Password and press the left- or right-arrow key.
   
   

The computer prompts you to enter and verify the password. If a character is illegal for password use, the computer emits a beep.

3. Type in and then verify the password.
   
   

After you verify the password, the Setup Password setting changes to Enabled. The next time you attempt to enter system setup, the computer prompts you for the setup password.

NOTE: The setup password can be the same as the system password.

NOTE: If the two passwords are different, the setup password can be used as an alternate system password. However, the system password cannot be used in place of the setup password.

A change to Setup Password becomes effective immediately (rebooting the computer is not required).

Operating Your Computer With a Setup Password Enabled

When you start system setup, the Setup Password option is highlighted, prompting you to type the password.

If you do not enter the correct password, the computer lets you view, but not modify, system setup options.

NOTE: To further protect your computer from unauthorized changes, you can use the Password Status system setup option in conjunction with the System Password and Setup Password options.

Deleting or Changing an Existing Setup Password

To change an existing setup password, you must know the setup password.

1. Enter system setup.
   
   
2. If you have already assigned a setup password, type it at the prompt.
   
   
3. Highlight Setup Password and press the left- or right-arrow key to delete the existing setup password.
   
   

The setting changes to Not Enabled.

4. If you want to assign a new setup password, perform the steps in "Assigning a Setup Password."
   
   

Disabling System and Setup Passwords

NOTICE: This process erases both the system and setup passwords.

CAUTION: Before you perform this procedure, see "Safety First— For You and Your Computer."

NOTICE: Before disconnecting a device from the computer, wait 10 to 20 seconds after disconnecting the computer from its electrical outlet. Before removing a component from the system board, verify that the standby power light on the system board has turned off. To locate this light, see "System Board Components" or "Interior Service Label."

1. Turn off the computer and devices, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, and wait 10 to 20 seconds.
   
   
2. Lay the computer on its right side.
   
   
3. Open the computer cover.
   
   
4. Remove the jumper plug from the PSWD jumper to disable the password feature.
   
   

See "Jumper Settings" to locate the password jumper (labeled "PSWD") on the system board.

5. Close the computer cover.
   
   
6. Stand the computer upright.
   
   
7. Reconnect the computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
   
   

The existing password(s) are erased.

NOTE: If enabled, the Chassis Intrusion option will cause the following message to be displayed at the next system start-up:

ALERT! Cover was previously removed.

8. Proceed to step 9 if you want to assign a new password.
   
   

NOTE: Before you assign a new system and/or setup password, you must install the PSWD jumper plug to reenable the password feature.

9. Turn off the computer and devices, disconnect them from their electrical outlets, and wait 10 to 20 seconds.
   
   
10. Lay the computer on its right side.
    
    
11. Open the computer cover.
    
    
12. Install the PSWD jumper plug.
    
    
13. Close the computer cover.
    
    
14. Stand the computer upright.
    
    
15. Reconnect the computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.
    
    

Turning on your computer with the PSWD jumper installed reenables the password feature. When you enter system setup, both password options appear as Not Enabled, meaning that the password feature is enabled but that no password is assigned.

16. Assign a new system and/or setup password.
    
    

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