Dell Precision 420 - Manual (Page 133)

If a wrong or incomplete system password is entered, the following message appears on the screen:
** Incorrect password. **
Enter password:
If an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered again, the same message appears on the screen.
The third and subsequent times an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered, the system displays the following message:
** Incorrect password. **
Number of unsuccessful password
attempts: 3
System halted! Must power down.
The number of unsuccessful attempts made to enter the correct system password can alert you that an unauthorized person has attempted to use
your system.
Even after your system is turned off and on, the previous message is displayed each time an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered.
Deleting or Changing an Existing System Password
To delete or change an existing system password, perform the following steps:
1. Enter the System Setup program and verify that Password Status is set to Unlocked.
Enter the System Setup program by pressing the key combination. Press the
key combination to move to
Page 2 of the System Setup screens. For instructions on changing the setting for Password Status, see "
Password Status ."
2. Reboot your system to force it to prompt you for a system password.
3. When prompted, type the system password.
4. Press the key combination to disable the existing system password, instead of pressing to continue with the normal
operation of your system.
5. Reboot the system and enter the System Setup program .
6. Confirm that Not Enabled is displayed for System Password in the System Setup program.
If Not Enabled appears, the system password has been deleted. If you want to assign a new password, go to step 7.
If Not Enabled is not displayed, press the key combination to reboot the system, and then repeat steps 3 through 6.
7. Assign a system password .
Using the Setup Password Feature
Your Dell system is shipped to you without the setup password feature enabled. If system security is a concern, you should operate your system
with setup password protection.
You can assign a setup password whenever you use the System Setup program. After a setup password is assigned, only those who know the
password have full use of the System Setup program.
To change an existing setup password , you must know the setup password. If you assign and later forget a setup password, you need your
computer key to get inside the chassis, where you can change a jumper setting to disable the password feature . Note that you erase the system
password at the same time.
Assigning a Setup Password
A setup password can be assigned (or changed) only when Setup Password is set to Not Enabled. To assign a setup password, highlight
Setup Password and press the left- or right-arrow key. The system prompts you to enter and verify the password. If a character is illegal for
password use, the system emits a beep.
NOTE: If you have assigned a setup password , the system accepts your setup password as an alternate system password.
NOTE: You can use Password Status in conjunction with System Password and Setup Password to further protect your system from
unauthorized changes.
NOTES: The setup password can be the same as the system password.