Steps
1. To enter System Setup, press <F2> immediately after a power-on or reboot.
2. From the System Setup Main Menu, select System BIOS and press <Enter>.
The System BIOS screen is displayed.
3. On the System BIOS screen, select System Security and press <Enter>.
The System Security screen is displayed.
4. On the System Security screen, verify that Password Status is Unlocked.
5. Select System Password, enter your system password, and press <Enter> or <Tab>.
Use the following guidelines to assign the system password:
• A password can have up to 32 characters.
• The password can contain the numbers 0 through 9.
• Only the following special characters are allowed: space, (”), (+), (,), (-), (.), (/), (;), ([), (\), (]), (`).
A message prompts you to re-enter the system password.
6. Re-enter the system password, and click OK.
7. Select Setup Password, enter your setup password and press <Enter> or <Tab>.
A message prompts you to re-enter the setup password.
8. Re-enter the setup password, and click OK.
9. Press <Esc> to return to the System BIOS screen. Press <Esc> again.
A message prompts you to save the changes.
NOTE: Password protection does not take effect until the system reboots.
Using your system password to secure your system
Prerequisites
NOTE: If you have assigned a setup password, the system accepts your setup password as an
alternate system password.
Steps
1. Turn on or reboot your system.
2. Type your password and press <Enter>.
Next steps
When Password Status is Locked, type the password and press <Enter> when prompted at reboot.
If an incorrect system password is entered, the system displays a message and prompts you to re-enter
your password. You have three attempts to enter the correct password. After the third unsuccessful
attempt, the system displays an error message that the system has halted and must be powered down.
Even after you shut down and restart the system, the error message is displayed until the correct
password is entered.
NOTE: You can use the Password Status option in conjunction with the System Password and
Setup Password options to protect your system from unauthorized changes.
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