Lenovo ThinkCentre, Hardware Maintenance Manual

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Chapter 6. Using the Setup Utility
The Setup Utility program is used to view and change the configuration settings of
the computer, regardless of which operating system you are using. However, the
operating-system settings might override any similar settings in the Setup Utility
program.
Starting the Setup Utility program
To start the Setup Utility program, do the following:
1.
If the computer is already on when you start this procedure, shut down the
operating system and turn off the computer.
2. Press and hold the F1 key then turn on the computer. When you hear multiple
beeps, release the F1 key.
Notes:
a. If you are using a USB keyboard and the Setup Utility program does not
display using this method, repeatedly press and release the F1 key rather
than leaving it pressed when turning on the computer.
b. If a Power-On Password (POP) or a Privileged Access Password (PAP) has
been set, the Setup Utility program menu is not displayed until you type
your password. For more information, see “Using passwords.”
The Setup Utility might start automatically when POST detects that hardware has
been removed or new hardware has been installed in the computer.
Viewing and changing settings
The Setup Utility program menu lists items that identify system configuration
topics. To view or change settings, see “Starting the Setup Utility program.”
When working with the Setup Utility program menu, you must use the keyboard.
The keys used to perform various tasks are displayed at the bottom of each screen.
Using passwords
By using the Setup Utility program, you can set passwords to prevent
unauthorized persons from gaining access to the computer and data. See “Starting
the Setup Utility program.” The following types of passwords are available:
v
Power-On Password
v Privileged Access Password
You do not have to set any passwords to use the computer. However, if you decide
to set any passwords, read the following sections.
Password considerations
A password can be any combination of up to 16 (1 to 16) alphabetic and numeric
characters. For security reasons, it is recommended to use a strong password that
cannot be easily compromised. To set a strong password, use the following
guidelines:
v
Have at least eight characters in length
© Lenovo 2005, 2008. Portions © IBM Corp. 2005.
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