Dell Precision 420 - Manual (Page 134)

After you verify the password, the Setup Password setting changes to Enabled. The next time you enter the System Setup program, the system
prompts you for the setup password.
A change to Setup Password becomes effective immediately (rebooting the system is not required).
Operating With a Setup Password Enabled
If Setup Password is set to Enabled, you must enter the correct setup password before you can modify the majority of the System Setup options.
When you start the System Setup program, Page 2 of the System Setup screens appears with Setup Password highlighted, prompting you to
type the password.
If you do not enter the correct password in three tries, the system lets you view, but not modify, the System Setup screens —with the following
exceptions:
l You can still modify Date, Time, CPU Speed, Num Lock, and Speaker.
l If System Password is not enabled and is not locked via Password Status, you can assign a system password (however, you cannot
disable or change an existing system password).
Deleting or Changing an Existing Setup Password
To delete or change an existing setup password, perform the following steps:
1. Enter the System Setup program.
2. Highlight Setup Password, and press the left- or right-arrow key to delete the existing setup password.
The setting changes to Not Enabled.
3. If you want to assign a new setup password, follow the procedure in " Assigning a Setup Password ."
Disabling a Forgotten Password
If you forget your system or setup password, you cannot operate your system or change settings in the System Setup program, respectively, until
you open the computer, change the password jumper setting to disable the passwords, and erase the existing passwords.
To disable a forgotten password, perform the following steps.
1. Remove the computer cover of your desktop or mini tower chassis.
2. Refer to " Jumpers " for jumper information and to Figure 2 in "Hardware Configuration Features" for the location of the password jumper
(labeled "PSWD") on the system board.
3. Remove the jumper plug from the PSWD jumper (the disable setting).
4. Replace the computer cover of your desktop or mini tower chassis.
5. Reconnect your computer to its electrical outlet and turn it on.
Booting your system with the PSWD jumper plug removed erases the existing password(s).
6. Remove the computer cover of your desktop or mini tower chassis.
7. Replace the PSWD jumper plug (the enable setting).
8. Replace the computer cover of your desktop or mini tower chassis, and then reconnect the computer and peripherals to their electrical
outlets and turn them on.
Booting with the PSWD jumper installed reenables the password features. When you enter the System Setup program, both password fields
appear as Not Enabled, meaning that password protection is no longer available because no passwords have been assigned.
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.
NOTE: You can use Password Status in conjunction with Setup Password to protect System Password from unauthorized
changes.
CAUTION: Before you remove the computer cover, see " Safety First —For You and Your Computer ."
NOTE: Before you assign a new system and/or setup password, you must replace the PSWD jumper plug.