Using a Hard-Disk Drive PasswordThe hard-disk drive password helps protect the data on your hard-disk drive from unauthorized access. You can also assign a password for themodular 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.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 fromsuspend mode or standby mode.If the hard-disk drive password is enabled, the following message appears at the bottom of the screen each time you turn on the computer:Please type in the hard-disk drive password and press .To continue, enter the hard-disk drive password. Press to return the computer to its previous state—suspend, standby, or off.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, you receive a message stating that the hard-disk drive cannot be found. If the hard-diskdrive is inaccessible and the boot options in the System Setup program are set to allow booting from another device, the computer tries to bootfrom another device. If all boot attempts are unsuccessful, the computer prompts you to enter the System Setup program and modify the bootoptions.Physically Securing the ComputerTo prevent unauthorized removal of the computer, you can use a security cable to attach the computer to an immovable object. Your computer hasa security cable slot located on the left side of the computer near the back (see Figure 1).Description of Security Cable SlotsThe security cable slot allows you to attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer. Antitheft devices for portable computersusually include a segment of metal-stranded cable with an attached locking device and associated key. You can use a security cable on yourcomputer when it is undocked and also when it is docked in a Dell Latitude C/Port Family Advanced Port Replicator (C/Port APR) or a C/DockFamily Expansion Station.Basic Instructions for Using Security Cable SlotsTo prevent unauthorized removal of your computer, loop the cable around an immovable object, insert the locking device into either of the securitycable slots, and lock the device. See Figure 1 for an example of how to secure your computer. Complete instructions for installing this kind ofantitheft device are usually included with the device.Figure 1. Securing the ComputerNOTE: Hard-disk drives that are not purchased from Dell for use with Latitude C-Family computers may not support the hard-disk drivepassword option.NOTE: If no password is entered within 2 minutes, the computer returns to its previous state.NOTES: If the hard-disk drive password, the modular hard-disk drive password, and the primary password are the same, you areprompted only for the primary password. If the hard-disk drive password is different from the primary password, you are prompted forboth. 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 apassword.NOTE: Antitheft devices are of differing designs. Before purchasing such a device, make sure that it will work with the security cable slotin your computer.
