Dell precision M65 User Manual

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Dell precision M65 User Manual Manual pdf 60 page image

58 Securing Your ComputerFILE LOCATION: C:\Documents and Settings\reggie_davis\Desktop\Projects-07\BEN\Source\security.fmD E L L C O N F I D E N T I A L – P R E L I M I N A R Y 1 / 2 5 / 0 7 – F O R P R O O F O N LYUsing an Administrator PasswordThe administrator password is designed to give system administrators or service technicians access tocomputers for repair or reconfiguration. The administrators or technicians can assign identicaladministrator passwords to groups of computers, allowing you to assign a unique primary password.To set or change administrator passwords, access User Accounts from the Control Panel.When you set an administrator password, the Configure Setup option becomes available in the systemsetup program. The Configure Setup option allows you to restrict access to system setup in the same waythat a primary password restricts access to the computer.The administrator password can be used instead of the primary password. Whenever you are promptedto enter the primary password, you can enter the administrator password.NOTICE: If you disable the administrator password, the primary password is also disabled.NOTE: The administrator password provides access to the computer, but it does not provide access to the harddrive when a hard drive password is assigned.If you forget the primary password and do not have an administrator password assigned, or if you haveboth a primary and an administrator password assigned but forget them both, contact your systemadministrator or contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 128).Using a Hard Drive PasswordThe hard drive password helps protect the data on your hard drive from unauthorized access. You canalso assign a password for an external hard drive (if one is being used) that can be the same as or differentfrom the password for the primary hard drive.After assigning a hard drive password, you must enter it each time you turn on the computer and eachtime you restore the computer to normal operation from standby mode.If the hard drive password is enabled, you must enter it each time you turn on the computer: A messageappears asking for the hard drive password.To continue, enter your password (with no more than eight characters) and press .If you do not enter a password within 2 minutes, the computer returns to its previous operating state.If you enter the wrong password, a message tells you that the password is invalid. Press to tryagain.If you do not enter the correct password in three attempts, the computer tries to start from anotherbootable device if the Boot First Device option in the system setup program is set to allow start-up fromanother device. If the Boot First Device option is not set to allow the computer to start from anotherdevice, the computer returns to the operating state it was in when you turned it on.If the hard drive password, the external hard-drive password, and the primary password are the same, thecomputer prompts you only for the primary password. If the hard drive password is different from theprimary password, the computer prompts you for both. Two different passwords provide greater security.NOTE: The administrator password provides access to the computer, but it does not provide access to the harddrive when a hard drive password is assigned.