Securing Your Computer
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D E L L C O N F ID E N T IA L – P R E L IM I N A RY 1 / 2 5/ 0 7 – F O R PR O O F O N LY
Passwords
NOTE:
Passwords are disabled when you receive your computer.
A primary (or system) password, an administrator password, and a hard drive password all prevent
unauthorized access to your computer in different ways. The following table identifies types and features
of passwords available on your computer.
NOTE:
Some hard drives do not support hard drive passwords.
NOTICE:
Passwords provide a high level of security for data in your computer or hard drive. However, they are not
foolproof. If you require more security, obtain and use additional forms of protection, such as smart cards, data
encryption programs, or PC Cards with encryption features.
If you forget any of your passwords, contact your system administrator or contact Dell (see "Contacting
Dell" on page 128). For your protection, Dell support staff will ask you for proof of your identity to ensure
that only an authorized person can use the computer.
NOTE:
Dell OpenManage
™
Client Instrumentation version 7.3 or later must be installed on the computer for system
administrators to assign passwords remotely.
Using a Primary/System Password
The primary (system) password allows you to protect the computer from unauthorized access.
Access
User Accounts
from the Control Panel to create user accounts and add or change passwords. After
assigning a primary password, you must enter it each time you turn on your computer.
If you do not enter a password within 2 minutes, the computer returns to its previous operating state.
NOTICE:
If you disable the administrator password, the primary password is also disabled.
If you have assigned an administrator password, you can use it instead of the primary password. The
computer does not specifically prompt you for the administrator password.
Type of Password
Features
Primary/System
• Protects the computer from unauthorized access
Administrator
• Gives system administrators or service technicians
access to computers for repair or reconfiguration
• Allows you to restrict access to system setup in the same
way a primary password restricts access to the computer
• Can be used instead of the primary password
Hard drive
• Helps protect the data on your hard drive or external
hard drive (if one is being used) from unauthorized
access
