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## Securing Your Computer: Dell™ Latitude™ CS/CSx Portable Computers User's Guide

| About Passwords |  | Using a Hard-Disk Drive Password
| Using a Primary Password |  | Physically Securing the Computer
| Using an Administrator Password |  | Asset Tag Utility

### About Passwords

A primary password prevents unauthorized access to the computer at start-up. An administrator password can be used in place of the primary password. A hard-disk drive password helps prevent the unauthorized access of data on the hard-disk drive, even when the device is placed into another computer.

| 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.

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 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 at the bottom of the screen each time you turn on the computer:

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

To continue, type your password and press <Enter>.

| NOTE: If no password is entered 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.

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 in large companies access to computers for repair or reconfiguration. The administrators or technicians can assign identical administrator passwords to groups of computers as they are unpacked and configured, leaving the primary password free to be assigned by the user.

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 system password restricts access to the system.

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

| NOTE: The administrator password provides access to the system, but it does not provide access to the hard-disk drive when it is protected by a 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, call Dell.

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

### Using a Hard-Disk Drive Password

The hard-disk drive password helps protect the data on your hard-disk drive from unauthorized access. You can also assign a password for the modular hard-disk drive (if one is being used) that can be the same as or different from the password for the primary hard-disk drive.

| NOTE: Hard-disk drives that are not purchased from Dell for use with Latitude C-Family computers may not support the hard-disk drive password option.

After assigning a hard-disk drive password, you must enter it each time you turn on the computer and each time you resume normal operation from suspend mode or standby mode.

If the hard-disk drive password is enabled, the following message appears at the bottom of the screen each time you turn on the computer:

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

To continue, enter the hard-disk drive password. Press <Esc> to return the computer to its previous state—suspend, standby, or off.

| NOTE: If no password is entered 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, you receive a message stating that the hard-disk drive cannot be found. If the hard-disk drive is inaccessible and the boot options in the System Setup program are set to allow booting from another device, the computer tries to boot from another device. If all boot attempts are unsuccessful, the computer prompts you to enter the System Setup program and modify the boot options.

| NOTES: If the hard-disk drive password, the modular hard-disk drive password, and the primary password are the same, you are prompted only for the primary password. If the hard-disk drive password is different from the primary password, you are prompted for both. Two different passwords provide greater security.

The administrator password provides access to the system, but it does not provide access to the hard-disk drive when it is protected by a password.

### Physically Securing the Computer

To prevent unauthorized removal of the computer, you can use a security cable to attach the computer to an immovable object. Your computer has a security cable slot located on the left side of the computer near the back (see Figure 1).

#### Description of Security Cable Slots

The security cable slot allows you to attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer. Antitheft devices for portable computers usually include a segment of metal-stranded cable with an attached locking device and associated key. You can use a security cable on your computer when it is undocked and also when it is docked in a Dell Latitude C/Port Family Advanced Port Replicator (C/Port APR) or a C/Dock Family Expansion Station.

#### Basic Instructions for Using Security Cable Slots

To prevent unauthorized removal of your computer, loop the cable around an immovable object, insert the locking device into either of the security cable slots, and lock the device. See Figure 1 for an example of how to secure your computer. Complete instructions for installing this kind of antitheft device are usually included with the device.

Figure 1. Securing the Computer

| NOTE: Antitheft devices are of differing designs. Before purchasing such a device, make sure that it will work with the security cable slot in your computer.

### Asset Tag Utility

Dell has installed the Asset Tag utility on your computer. The Asset Tag utility allows you to perform the following actions:

- View the computer's service tag
  The non-modifiable service tag, which is viewable in the System Setup program, is set by Dell at the factory. It is used to identify your computer to Dell for service and warranty purposes.

- Set, view, and modify the computer's asset tag
  The asset tag, which can be set by you or your company, is optional and is not required or used by Dell. The asset tag can be used in any way desired; typically it is used by a company to differentiate and identify multiple computers that use an internally assigned identifier.
- Set, view and modify the computer's owner tag
  The owner tag, which can be set by you or your company, is optional and is not required or used by Dell. It can be used in any way desired. Typically, it is used by a company to identify the computer as belonging to the company; it might contain a telephone number that can be used to help return a unit to its owner. This tag is displayed on the system log-on screen and on the screens that prompt for the primary and hard-disk drive passwords.

#### Viewing Existing Asset, Service, and Owner Tags

To view existing asset, service, and owner tags, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and click MS-DOS Prompt.
2. Type cd c:\Dell\Util and press <Enter>.
3. Type asset and press <Enter>.

#### Assigning an Asset Tag

An asset tag can have up to ten characters; any combination of characters is valid except those that begin with a forward slash (/) or a question mark (?). Spaces count as characters. To assign or change an asset tag, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and click MS-DOS Prompt.
2. Type cd c:\Dell\Util and press <Enter>.
3. Type asset and a space followed by the new tag, and press <Enter>.
   For example, type the following command line and press <Enter>:
   asset 1234 $AB&C
4. When the computer prompts you to verify that you want to change the asset tag, type y and press <Enter>.
   The computer displays the new or modified asset tag and the service tag.

| NOTE: For security reasons, you cannot set, change, or delete the asset tag if either the primary or the administrator password is set.

#### Deleting an Asset Tag

To delete the asset tag without assigning a new one, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and click MS-DOS Prompt.
2. Type cd c:\Dell\Util and press <Enter>.
3. Type asset /d and press <Enter>.

#### Assigning an Owner Tag

An owner tag can have up to 48 characters, including spaces. Any combination of characters is valid except those that begin with a forward slash (/) or a question mark (?). To assign an owner tag, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and click MS-DOS Prompt.
2. Type cd c:\Dell\Util and press <Enter>.
3. 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
4. When the computer prompts you to verify that you want to change the owner tag, type y and press <Enter>.
   The computer displays the new owner tag.

#### Deleting an Owner Tag

To delete the owner tag without assigning a new one, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and click MS-DOS Prompt.
2. Type cd c:\Dell\Util and press <Enter>.
3. Type asset /o /d and press <Enter>.

| NOTE: For security reasons, you cannot set, change, or delete the owner tag if either the primary or the administrator password is set.

Table 1 lists the command-line options you can use with the Asset Tag utility. To use one of these options, open an MS-DOSŪ prompt, type

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

Table 1. Asset Tag Utility Commands

Asset Tag Command | Function
asset | Displays the asset, service, and owner tags
asset <tag> | Sets a new asset tag
asset /d | Deletes the asset tag
asset /o <tag> | Sets a new owner tag
asset /o /d | Deletes the owner tag
asset /? | Displays the Asset Tag utility help screen

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