Maintenance and Service Guide

8 Password security and resetting CMOS
This computer supports security password features, which can be established through the Computer Setup
Utilities menu.
This computer supports two security password features that are established through the Computer Setup
Utilities menu: administrator password and power-on password. When you establish only an administrator
password, any user can access all the information on the computer except Computer Setup. When you
establish only a power-on password, the power-on password is required to access Computer Setup and any
other information on the computer. When you establish both passwords, only the administrator password will
give you access to Computer Setup.
When both passwords are set, the administrator password can also be used in place of the power-on
password as an override to log in to the computer. This feature is useful for a network administrator.
If you forget one or both passwords, you can clear all passwords by turning o the system, opening the cover,
temporarily removing the PSWD jumper, and booting once. This action erases the administrator and power-
on passwords. You must restore the jumper to create new passwords.
IMPORTANT: Pushing the CMOS button with power removed resets the BIOS settings to factory defaults. It
can be useful to back up the BIOS settings or save them as custom defaults before resetting them in case they
are needed later. Back up can be performed in Computer Setup or using the BiosCongUtility tool available
from www.hp.com. See Computer Setup (F10) Utility on page 59 for information on backing up the BIOS
settings.
Resetting the password jumper
IMPORTANT: If you enable the stringent security feature in Computer Setup and you forget the setup
password or the power-on password, the computer is inaccessible and can no longer be used.
Enabling the stringent password disables the ability to reset the password by moving the jumper on the
system board.
If you lose or forget the password, the system board must be replaced. This scenario is not covered under
warranty.
To prevent the computer from becoming permanently unusable, record your congured setup password or
power-on password in a safe place away from your computer. Without these passwords, the computer cannot
be unlocked.
To disable the power-on or setup password features, or to clear the power-on or setup passwords, complete
the following steps:
106 Chapter 8 Password security and resetting CMOS