BIOS Security Features

The BIOS includes security features that restrict access to the BIOS Setup program and who can boot the computer. A supervisor password and a user password can be set for the BIOS Setup program and for booting the computer, with the following restrictions:

• The supervisor password gives unrestricted access to view and change all the Setup options in the BIOS Setup program. This is the supervisor mode.
• The user password gives restricted access to view and change Setup options in the BIOS Setup program. This is the user mode.
• If only the supervisor password is set, pressing the <Enter> key at the password prompt of the BIOS Setup program allows the user restricted access to Setup.
• If both the supervisor and user passwords are set, users can enter either the supervisor password or the user password to access Setup. Users have access to Setup respective to which password is entered.
• Setting the user password restricts who can boot the computer. The password prompt will be displayed before the computer is booted. If only the supervisor password is set, the computer boots without asking for a password. If both passwords are set, the user can enter either password to boot the computer.
• For enhanced security, use different passwords for the supervisor and user passwords.
• Valid password characters are A-Z, a-z, and 0-9. Passwords may be up to 16 characters in length.
• To clear a set password, enter a blank password after entering the existing password.

Table 14 shows the effects of setting the supervisor password and user password. This table is for reference only and is not displayed on the screen.

Table 14. Supervisor and User Password Functions

Note: If no password is set, any user can change all Setup options.