new computer cannot set password

[burt-oh-my!]

I have a new used computer, and I have tried to set a password for the boot process - I set two good medium-length passwords in the CMOS or BIOS or whatever that startup thing is - one for seup the other for some other thing, - it accepts the pwds, which I have to input twice each time, I save the settings, but then next time I boot the computer does not request a pwd. I thought maybe the computer battery was dead, because I remember you can get around a forgotten pwd by removing the battery, but I notice the date/time is accurate every time so I presume that that is not the problem.

Any experts?

 

[The Options Menu]

I have a new used computer, and I have tried to set a password for the boot process - I set two good medium-length passwords in the CMOS or BIOS or whatever that startup thing is - one for seup the other for some other thing, - it accepts the pwds, which I have to input twice each time, I save the settings, but then next time I boot the computer does not request a pwd. I thought maybe the computer battery was dead, because I remember you can get around a forgotten pwd by removing the battery, but I notice the date/time is accurate every time so I presume that that is not the problem.

Any experts?

After you set them are you making sure 'Save & Exit' the BIOS on exit? Generally the default on x86 is to not save changes unless expressly told to do so.

Why do you want such a low level password anyway? If it's just to cover your porn and browsing create a guest account and a personal account, and don't let people use your personal account (and use anonymous browsing and hide / restrict your porn directory). Strict account separation says, "I love / like you but I don't want you fucking with, and messing up, my shit." a BIOS password says either "I mission critical or a real fucking creep". It begs questions is all... And if your computer ever falls into the hands of a 1/2 decent geek they'll search it for giggles looking for 'real freaky shit'. I have and would again. A BIOS password will slow a geek down for 30 seconds, if you're that serious, encrypt your disks and require a very strong key. OS depending, you can do that for a whole system or just a 1 user partition.

 

[nofrill]

burt if you want to protect Windows during bootup, you should set the PW in Windows, not in the BIOS. The BIOS PW is only required when you run the BIOS menu.

Depending on the version of Windows, open Control Panel -> User Account, follow the link and instruction to set up a PW for your current login (if there is no user account, you can create one and PW protect it).

Remember: to completely protect a computer with the older WinXP, apart from PW protecting your current user login, you also need to PW protect the hidden Admin account - after pressing the power button to start your computer, keep pressing F8 function button until a menu comes up -> use up/down arrow to choose Safe Mode. After booting into Safe Mode, open Control Panel -> User Accounts and set up a PW in the Administrator account.

 

[The Options Menu]

burt if you want to protect Windows during bootup, you should set the PW in Windows, not in the BIOS. The BIOS PW is only required when you run the BIOS menu.

Depending on the version of Windows, open Control Panel -> User Account, follow the link and instruction to set up a PW for your current login (if there is no user account, you can create one and PW protect it).

Remember: to completely protect a computer with the older WinXP, apart from PW protecting your current user login, you also need to PW protect the hidden Admin account - after pressing the power button to start your computer, keep pressing F8 function button until a menu comes up -> use up/down arrow to choose Safe Mode. After booting into Safe Mode, open Control Panel -> User Accounts and set up a PW in the Administrator account.

Even then, anybody with any 'Live OS' or 'Live emergency tools' will cackle giddily as they rummage your shit. Unless you encrypt the filesystem on disk, with a manually entered key, and have strict user account separation you're just kidding yourself. If you're not going that far, you might as well stick to a passworded user account for yourself, a passworded admin / root account, and a public guest account (not unlike the quoted post said).

 

[nofrill]

I am not really here to discuss the usefulness of Windows password or its hackability, I am merely trying to help the OP solve his problem, explaining to him in a non-tekkie lingo and understandable manner.

 

[The Options Menu]

I am not really here to discuss the usefulness of Windows password or its hackability, I am merely trying to help the OP solve his problem, explaining to him in a non-tekkie lingo and understandable manner.

True, and what you said is good. Odds are the guy just wants to protect his bookmarks and his otherwise 'normally perverted' jerk off stash.

 

[burt-oh-my!]

True, and what you said is good. Odds are the guy just wants to protect his bookmarks and his otherwise 'normally perverted' jerk off stash.

Sir, you are correct.