Dell Latitude L400 - Manual (Page 66)

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Securing Your Computer: Dell™ Latitude™ L400 User's Guide
About Passwords
A user password prevents unauthorized access to the computer at start-up. A supervisor password controls access to the system setup program.
A hard-disk drive password helps prevent the unauthorized access of data on the hard-disk drive, even when the device is placed in another
computer.
NOTICE: The password features provide a high level of security for the data in your computer or hard-disk drive. However, they are
not foolproof. If your data requires more security, you should obtain and use additional forms of protection, such as data encryption
programs or PC Cards with encryption features.
If you forget any of your passwords, call Dell . For your protection, Dell ’s technical support staff will ask you for proof of your identity to make sure
that an unauthorized person is not trying to use the computer.
Using a Supervisor Password
A supervisor password can be assigned to give system administrators or service technicians in large companies access to computers for repair
or reconfiguration. The administrators or technicians can assign identical supervisor passwords to groups of computers as they are unpacked and
configured, leaving the user password free to be assigned by the user.
A supervisor password overrides the user password. Whenever you are prompted to enter the user password, you can enter the supervisor
password instead.
If you forget your passwords, call Dell .
NOTICE: Disabling the supervisor password disables the user password.
Using a User Password
The user password allows you to protect the computer from unauthorized access.
After assigning a user password , you must enter it each time you turn on your computer. During the boot routine the following message appears in
the middle of the screen:
Enter Password
To continue, type your password and press <Enter>.
If you assigned a supervisor password, you can use it instead of the user password. The computer does not specifically prompt you for the
supervisor password.
NOTICE: Disabling the supervisor password disables the user password.
About Passwords Using a Hard-Disk Drive Password
Using a Supervisor Password Physically Securing the Computer and the Hard-Disk Drive
Using a User Password Asset Tag Utility
NOTES: All three passwords are disabled when you receive your computer. You need to assign those passwords if you require
password security for your computer. Some companies may assign any or all of these passwords before distributing the computer.
Use the
system setup program to assign all passwords.
NOTES: A supervisor password must be assigned before you can assign a user password.
The supervisor password protects, and provides access to, the system setup program; however, it does not provide access to the hard-
disk drive when the drive is protected by a
hard-disk drive password .
NOTE: Before assigning a user password, a supervisor password must be set .