Dell Latitude X300: Passwords

Passwords  

About Passwords

Using a Primary Password

Using an Administrator Password

Using a Hard Drive Password

Assigning an Asset Tag

About Passwords 

A primary password prevents unauthorized access to the computer at start-up. You can use an administrator password instead of the primary password. A 

hard drive password helps prevent unauthorized access to data on the drive, even when the drive is installed in another computer. 

If you forget any of your passwords, contact your system administrator or call Dell. For your protection, Dell technical support staff will ask you for proof of your 

identity to ensure that only an authorized person can use the computer. 

The following table identifies types and features of passwords available on your computer. 

Using a Primary Password 

The primary password allows you to protect the computer from unauthorized access. 

After assigning a primary password, you must enter it each time you turn on your computer. The following message appears each time you turn on the 

computer: 

Please type in the primary or administrator password and press <Enter>.  

To continue, enter your password (maximum eight characters). 

If you do not enter a password within 2 minutes, the computer returns to its previous state. 

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. 

NOTE: 

Passwords are disabled when you receive your computer.

NOTE: 

Only hard drives purchased from Dell for use with the Dell™ Latitude™ D

-Family computers 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. 

Type of Password

Features

Primary 

l

Protects the computer from unauthorized access  

Administrator 

l

Gives system administrators or service technicians access to computers for repair or reconfiguration  

l

Allows you to restrict access to the system setup program in the same way a system password restricts access to the computer 

l

Can be used instead of the primary password  

Hard drive 

l

Helps protect the data on your hard drive or external hard drive (if one is being used) from unauthorized access.  

NOTICE: 

If you disable the administrator password, the primary password is also disabled. 

Using an Administrator Password 

The administrator password is designed to give system administrators or service technicians access to computers for repair or reconfiguration. The 

administrators or technicians can assign identical administrator passwords to groups of computers, allowing you to assign the primary password. 

When you set an administrator password, the 

Configure Setup

 option becomes available in the system setup program. The 

Configure Setup

 option allows 

you to restrict access to the system setup program in the same way a primary password restricts access to the computer. 

The administrator password can be used instead of the primary password. Whenever you are prompted to enter the primary password, you can enter the 

administrator password. 

If you forget the primary password and do not have an administrator password assigned, or if you have both a primary and an administrator password 

assigned but forget them both, contact your system administrator or contact Dell. 

Using a Hard Drive Password 

The hard drive password helps protect the data on your hard drive from unauthorized access. You can also assign a password for an external hard drive (if 

one is being used) that can be the same as or different from 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 each time you resume normal operation from standby

mode. 

If the hard drive password is enabled, the following message appears each time you turn on the computer: 

Please type in the hard-disk drive password and press <Enter>.  

To continue, enter your password (maximum eight characters). Press <Esc> to return the computer to its previous state. 

If you do not enter a password within 2 minutes, the computer returns to its previous state. 

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, the computer tries to boot from another bootable device if the 

Boot First Device

 option in the system 

setup program is set to allow it. If the 

Boot First Device

 option is not set to allow booting from another device, the computer returns to the 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, you are prompted only for the primary password. If 

the hard drive password is different from the primary password, you are prompted for both. Two different passwords provide greater security. 

Assigning an Asset Tag 

The Asset Tag utility allows you to enter an asset tag that you or your company assigns to the computer. After you enter an asset tag, the tag appears in the 

system setup screens. 

NOTE: 

The administrator password provides access to the computer, but it does not provide access to the hard drive when a hard drive password is 

assigned. 

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 a hard drive that is protected by a hard drive 

password.

You can also use the Asset Tag utility to enter an owner tag that appears in the system log-on screen and with the primary password prompt. 

Use your 

Drivers and Utilities

 CD to create a bootable floppy disk, and then use the bootable floppy disk to assign an asset tag: 

1.

Save and close any open files and exit any open programs. Connect the Dell™ D/Bay with a floppy drive to the powered USB connector on the left side 

of the computer, or connect a USB floppy drive to the USB connector on the right side of the computer. 

2.

Insert the 

Drivers and Utilities

 CD. 

3.

When the 

Welcome Dell System Owner

 window appears, click 

Next

. 

4.

Select 

MS-DOS

 from the 

Operating System

 drop-down menu. 

5.

Click 

Dell Portables Asset Tag

, click 

Extract

, and then click 

Setup

. 

6.

Insert a blank floppy disk and press <Enter>. 

Follow the instructions on the screen to create a bootable floppy disk. 

7.

Boot the computer using the bootable floppy disk: 

a.

Restart the computer.  

b.

 Press <F12> immediately after the DELL™ logo appears.

If the operating system logo appears, wait until you see the Microsoft

® 

Windows

® 

desktop, and then shut down the computer and try again. 

c.

Press the arrow keys to select 

Diskette Drive

 and press <Enter>. 

8.

Type 

asset

 and a space followed by the new asset tag, and press <Enter>.  

For example, type the following command line and press <Enter>. 

asset 1234$ABCD&  

9.

When the computer prompts you to verify the asset tag, type 

y

. 

The computer displays the new or modified asset tag and the Service Tag. 

10.

Restart your computer to exit the Asset Tag utility. 

Viewing Existing Asset and Service Tags 

1.

Boot the computer using the bootable floppy disk you created in "

Assigning an Asset Tag

." 

2.

Type 

asset

 and press <Enter>. 

Deleting an Asset Tag  

1.

Boot the computer using the bootable floppy disk you created in "

Assigning an Asset Tag

."  

2.

Type 

asset /d

 and press<Enter>. 

3.

When the computer prompts you to delete the asset tag, type 

y

.  

Assigning an Owner Tag 

An owner tag can have up to 48 characters; any combination of letters, numbers, and spaces is valid. 

1.

Boot the computer using the bootable floppy disk you created in "

Assigning an Asset Tag

." 

2.

Type 

asset /o

 and a space followed by the new owner tag, and press <Enter>.  

For example, type the following command line and press <Enter>: 

asset /o ABC Company  

3.

When the computer prompts you to verify the owner tag, type 

y

.  

The computer displays the new owner tag. 

Deleting an Owner Tag 

NOTE: 

An asset tag can have up to 10 characters; any combination of characters excluding spaces is valid.

NOTE: 

For security, you cannot set, change, or delete the owner tag if the primary or administrator passwords are set.

1.

Boot the computer using the bootable floppy disk you created in "

Assigning an Asset Tag

."  

2.

Type 

asset /o /d

 and press <Enter>. 

3.

When the computer prompts you to delete the owner tag, type 

y

.  

Asset Tag Options 

To use one of the asset tag options (see the following table): 

1.

Boot the computer using the bootable floppy disk you created in "

Assigning an Asset Tag

." 

2.

Type 

asset

 and a space followed by the option, and then press <Enter>. 

Asset Tag Option 

Description 

/d  

Deletes the asset tag 

/o 

owner tag 

Specifies a new owner tag 

/o /d  

Deletes the owner tag 

/?  

Displays the Asset Tag utility help screen