Password question

My Inspiron notebook is something of an enigma to me as far as passwording
is concerned.
I wanted something to identify it as mine should it ever get lost, so here's
what I did.
I created a jpeg image with my name and telephone no in the center of it and
have replaced the photo which appears at bootup with this one. Nobody will
know my Windows password, so all they will see is this "ID card" of mine.
Then I thought "I'll password the system"....'hmm! But, that means they
wouldn't ever get to see the ID card.
Then I thought I'd use the Admin password and/or the hard drive
password....'so many passwords, but none seem to be a good idea for my plan.
I never saw so many passwords on a computer in my life. Ideally I would like
to be able to let Windows boot up from cold at least to the part where it
displays the 'ID card', but somehow find a way to prevent anyone from
changing the system, admin and HD passwords, should I ever lose the
notebook.
Is there a way I haven't thought of?

Joe.

assuming that you are talking about windows xp...
i suggest that you select to use the 'welcome screen' to log on to windows
and simply change the wallpaper used on the welcome screen to the one you
created with your contact information.
http://www.updatexp.com/tip12.html
then set a password for each user as well as the administrator (start in
safe mode to get to the administrator account/password or simply go to
start-run-type 'control userpasswords2' and click ok) and also be certain to
set each user to 'prompt for password when computer returns from standby'
(power option properties, advanced(tab))

"Joe" <> wrote in message
news:OIF7j.28613$. uk...
>
> My Inspiron notebook is something of an enigma to me as far as passwording
> is concerned.
> I wanted something to identify it as mine should it ever get lost, so
> here's what I did.
> I created a jpeg image with my name and telephone no in the center of it
> and have replaced the photo which appears at bootup with this one. Nobody
> will know my Windows password, so all they will see is this "ID card" of
> mine.
> Then I thought "I'll password the system"....'hmm! But, that means they
> wouldn't ever get to see the ID card.
> Then I thought I'd use the Admin password and/or the hard drive
> password....'so many passwords, but none seem to be a good idea for my
> plan. I never saw so many passwords on a computer in my life. Ideally I
> would like to be able to let Windows boot up from cold at least to the
> part where it displays the 'ID card', but somehow find a way to prevent
> anyone from changing the system, admin and HD passwords, should I ever
> lose the notebook.
> Is there a way I haven't thought of?
>
> Joe.
>
>
>

Joe;
If you want security for your data if computer is lost or stolen,
passwords will be of little help.
See rule 3:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/arc....mspx?mfr=true

Instead you need to encrypt the data.
Be careful, improper use of encryption routinely leads to complete
loss of encrypted data.

--
Jupiter Jones
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar



"Joe" <> wrote in message
news:OIF7j.28613$. uk...
>
> My Inspiron notebook is something of an enigma to me as far as
> passwording is concerned.
> I wanted something to identify it as mine should it ever get lost,
> so here's what I did.
> I created a jpeg image with my name and telephone no in the center
> of it and have replaced the photo which appears at bootup with this
> one. Nobody will know my Windows password, so all they will see is
> this "ID card" of mine.
> Then I thought "I'll password the system"....'hmm! But, that means
> they wouldn't ever get to see the ID card.
> Then I thought I'd use the Admin password and/or the hard drive
> password....'so many passwords, but none seem to be a good idea for
> my plan. I never saw so many passwords on a computer in my life.
> Ideally I would like to be able to let Windows boot up from cold at
> least to the part where it displays the 'ID card', but somehow find
> a way to prevent anyone from changing the system, admin and HD
> passwords, should I ever lose the notebook.
> Is there a way I haven't thought of?
>
> Joe.

the bios password is the only foolproof method for securing the laptop.
once you get past that, anyone who knows how can break in and steal your
system. if you password protect the cmos and the hard drive, they
cannot do squat... not even reset it.
you'll know its yours, if your password works.
then tape your name and number on the bottom...
if lost please return to joe @ 111-1234 for a handsome reward...

that's what i do.


Joe wrote:
> My Inspiron notebook is something of an enigma to me as far as passwording
> is concerned.
> I wanted something to identify it as mine should it ever get lost, so here's
> what I did.
> I created a jpeg image with my name and telephone no in the center of it and
> have replaced the photo which appears at bootup with this one. Nobody will
> know my Windows password, so all they will see is this "ID card" of mine.
> Then I thought "I'll password the system"....'hmm! But, that means they
> wouldn't ever get to see the ID card.
> Then I thought I'd use the Admin password and/or the hard drive
> password....'so many passwords, but none seem to be a good idea for my plan.
> I never saw so many passwords on a computer in my life. Ideally I would like
> to be able to let Windows boot up from cold at least to the part where it
> displays the 'ID card', but somehow find a way to prevent anyone from
> changing the system, admin and HD passwords, should I ever lose the
> notebook.
> Is there a way I haven't thought of?
>
> Joe.
>
>
>

Even that is not foolproof. It renders the laptop useless until someone resets
it or guesses it. But it does not stop someone from removing the hard drive,
cabling into a system as a slave drive with the help of a 2.5"-3.5" drive
adapter (or an external 2.5" USB case or an external USB cable), and reading all
the data. Attaching ANY drive as a slave to a running system bypasses all
Windows/NTFS passwording and security.

If the data itself is Joe's concern, then a CMOS password and data encryption
are the best one can hope to do to protect the data. But Joe needs to write
down the CMOS password and the data encryption key and keep them in a safe
place. I would do so, but then my memory is no longer perfect... Ben Myers

On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:59:00 -0500, Jay B <> wrote:

>the bios password is the only foolproof method for securing the laptop.
>once you get past that, anyone who knows how can break in and steal your
>system. if you password protect the cmos and the hard drive, they
>cannot do squat... not even reset it.
>you'll know its yours, if your password works.
>then tape your name and number on the bottom...
>if lost please return to joe @ 111-1234 for a handsome reward...
>
>that's what i do.
>
>
>Joe wrote:
>> My Inspiron notebook is something of an enigma to me as far as passwording
>> is concerned.
>> I wanted something to identify it as mine should it ever get lost, so here's
>> what I did.
>> I created a jpeg image with my name and telephone no in the center of it and
>> have replaced the photo which appears at bootup with this one. Nobody will
>> know my Windows password, so all they will see is this "ID card" of mine.
>> Then I thought "I'll password the system"....'hmm! But, that means they
>> wouldn't ever get to see the ID card.
>> Then I thought I'd use the Admin password and/or the hard drive
>> password....'so many passwords, but none seem to be a good idea for my plan.
>> I never saw so many passwords on a computer in my life. Ideally I would like
>> to be able to let Windows boot up from cold at least to the part where it
>> displays the 'ID card', but somehow find a way to prevent anyone from
>> changing the system, admin and HD passwords, should I ever lose the
>> notebook.
>> Is there a way I haven't thought of?
>>
>> Joe.
>>
>>
>>

"Joe" <> wrote in
news:OIF7j.28613$. uk:

>
> My Inspiron notebook is something of an enigma to me as far as
> passwording is concerned.
> I wanted something to identify it as mine should it ever get lost, so
> here's what I did.
> I created a jpeg image with my name and telephone no in the center of
> it and have replaced the photo which appears at bootup with this one.
> Nobody will know my Windows password, so all they will see is this "ID
> card" of mine. Then I thought "I'll password the system"....'hmm! But,
> that means they wouldn't ever get to see the ID card.
> Then I thought I'd use the Admin password and/or the hard drive
> password....'so many passwords, but none seem to be a good idea for my
> plan. I never saw so many passwords on a computer in my life. Ideally
> I would like to be able to let Windows boot up from cold at least to
> the part where it displays the 'ID card', but somehow find a way to
> prevent anyone from changing the system, admin and HD passwords,
> should I ever lose the notebook.
> Is there a way I haven't thought of?
>
> Joe.
>
>
>
>

On Dells, there is apparently a way to get your name or other
information to display right above the "Dell" logo at power up.

I know this, because the surplus GX270s I bought recently all say
"Portland Community College" at power up and I can't figure out how to
erase it. It must be somehow permanently flashed, because it survives a
admin password hard reset (jumper on the motherboard) and hard drive
replacement.

I'd love to know how they did it, not only to erase the existing info
but also to add my own.

Interesting. Never knew this factoid about the GX270. Could "Portland
Community College" be entered into the Asset field of the BIOS setup? If not,
maybe someone else can shed some light... Ben Myers

On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:47:53 -0600, Fred Mau <fred-dot-> wrote:

>"Joe" <> wrote in
>news:OIF7j.28613$ .uk:
>
>>
>> My Inspiron notebook is something of an enigma to me as far as
>> passwording is concerned.
>> I wanted something to identify it as mine should it ever get lost, so
>> here's what I did.
>> I created a jpeg image with my name and telephone no in the center of
>> it and have replaced the photo which appears at bootup with this one.
>> Nobody will know my Windows password, so all they will see is this "ID
>> card" of mine. Then I thought "I'll password the system"....'hmm! But,
>> that means they wouldn't ever get to see the ID card.
>> Then I thought I'd use the Admin password and/or the hard drive
>> password....'so many passwords, but none seem to be a good idea for my
>> plan. I never saw so many passwords on a computer in my life. Ideally
>> I would like to be able to let Windows boot up from cold at least to
>> the part where it displays the 'ID card', but somehow find a way to
>> prevent anyone from changing the system, admin and HD passwords,
>> should I ever lose the notebook.
>> Is there a way I haven't thought of?
>>
>> Joe.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>On Dells, there is apparently a way to get your name or other
>information to display right above the "Dell" logo at power up.
>
>I know this, because the surplus GX270s I bought recently all say
>"Portland Community College" at power up and I can't figure out how to
>erase it. It must be somehow permanently flashed, because it survives a
>admin password hard reset (jumper on the motherboard) and hard drive
>replacement.
>
>I'd love to know how they did it, not only to erase the existing info
>but also to add my own.

not entirely true.
a hardrrive password prevails even when the harddrive is pulled and moved.

the cmos password can be reset if the person knows how, but the
harddrive password cannot be. if you dont know it, i dont know of anyway
to get it back.


Ben Myers wrote:
> Even that is not foolproof. It renders the laptop useless until someone resets
> it or guesses it. But it does not stop someone from removing the hard drive,
> cabling into a system as a slave drive with the help of a 2.5"-3.5" drive
> adapter (or an external 2.5" USB case or an external USB cable), and reading all
> the data. Attaching ANY drive as a slave to a running system bypasses all
> Windows/NTFS passwording and security.
>
> If the data itself is Joe's concern, then a CMOS password and data encryption
> are the best one can hope to do to protect the data. But Joe needs to write
> down the CMOS password and the data encryption key and keep them in a safe
> place. I would do so, but then my memory is no longer perfect... Ben Myers
>
> On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:59:00 -0500, Jay B <> wrote:
>
>> the bios password is the only foolproof method for securing the laptop.
>> once you get past that, anyone who knows how can break in and steal your
>> system. if you password protect the cmos and the hard drive, they
>> cannot do squat... not even reset it.
>> you'll know its yours, if your password works.
>> then tape your name and number on the bottom...
>> if lost please return to joe @ 111-1234 for a handsome reward...
>>
>> that's what i do.
>>
>>
>> Joe wrote:
>>> My Inspiron notebook is something of an enigma to me as far as passwording
>>> is concerned.
>>> I wanted something to identify it as mine should it ever get lost, so here's
>>> what I did.
>>> I created a jpeg image with my name and telephone no in the center of it and
>>> have replaced the photo which appears at bootup with this one. Nobody will
>>> know my Windows password, so all they will see is this "ID card" of mine.
>>> Then I thought "I'll password the system"....'hmm! But, that means they
>>> wouldn't ever get to see the ID card.
>>> Then I thought I'd use the Admin password and/or the hard drive
>>> password....'so many passwords, but none seem to be a good idea for my plan.
>>> I never saw so many passwords on a computer in my life. Ideally I would like
>>> to be able to let Windows boot up from cold at least to the part where it
>>> displays the 'ID card', but somehow find a way to prevent anyone from
>>> changing the system, admin and HD passwords, should I ever lose the
>>> notebook.
>>> Is there a way I haven't thought of?
>>>
>>> Joe.
>>>
>>>
>>>

On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:13:34 GMT, "Joe" <>
wrote:

>
>My Inspiron notebook is something of an enigma to me as far as passwording
>is concerned.
>I wanted something to identify it as mine should it ever get lost, so here's
>what I did.
>I created a jpeg image with my name and telephone no in the center of it and
>have replaced the photo which appears at bootup with this one. Nobody will
>know my Windows password, so all they will see is this "ID card" of mine.
>Then I thought "I'll password the system"....'hmm! But, that means they
>wouldn't ever get to see the ID card.
>Then I thought I'd use the Admin password and/or the hard drive
>password....'so many passwords, but none seem to be a good idea for my plan.
>I never saw so many passwords on a computer in my life. Ideally I would like
>to be able to let Windows boot up from cold at least to the part where it
>displays the 'ID card', but somehow find a way to prevent anyone from
>changing the system, admin and HD passwords, should I ever lose the
>notebook.
>Is there a way I haven't thought of?
>
>Joe.
>
>


Joe, I'm going to guess here but can't you put on your jpeg like you
did before and use a 3rd party software lock like Steganos (there are
others) and then allow it to boot up without any screen password so
you jpeg is seen first then whoever picks a user to log in which
requires no password. At this time it appears like the regular screen
boots up but since Steganos or whatever was used to boot up with, I
think you can tell it to lock the screen unless a password is invoked.
I'm pretty sure Steganos or the like can do this.

On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:50:49 -0500, Ben Myers
<> wrote:

>Interesting. Never knew this factoid about the GX270. Could "Portland
>Community College" be entered into the Asset field of the BIOS setup? If not,
>maybe someone else can shed some light... Ben Myers
>
>On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:47:53 -0600, Fred Mau <fred-dot-> wrote:
>
>>"Joe" <> wrote in
>>news:OIF7j.28613$ o.uk:
>>
>>>
>>> My Inspiron notebook is something of an enigma to me as far as
>>> passwording is concerned.
>>> I wanted something to identify it as mine should it ever get lost, so
>>> here's what I did.
>>> I created a jpeg image with my name and telephone no in the center of
>>> it and have replaced the photo which appears at bootup with this one.
>>> Nobody will know my Windows password, so all they will see is this "ID
>>> card" of mine. Then I thought "I'll password the system"....'hmm! But,
>>> that means they wouldn't ever get to see the ID card.
>>> Then I thought I'd use the Admin password and/or the hard drive
>>> password....'so many passwords, but none seem to be a good idea for my
>>> plan. I never saw so many passwords on a computer in my life. Ideally
>>> I would like to be able to let Windows boot up from cold at least to
>>> the part where it displays the 'ID card', but somehow find a way to
>>> prevent anyone from changing the system, admin and HD passwords,
>>> should I ever lose the notebook.
>>> Is there a way I haven't thought of?
>>>
>>> Joe.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>On Dells, there is apparently a way to get your name or other
>>information to display right above the "Dell" logo at power up.
>>
>>I know this, because the surplus GX270s I bought recently all say
>>"Portland Community College" at power up and I can't figure out how to
>>erase it. It must be somehow permanently flashed, because it survives a
>>admin password hard reset (jumper on the motherboard) and hard drive
>>replacement.
>>
>>I'd love to know how they did it, not only to erase the existing info
>>but also to add my own.

Maybe this, if you're brave..


http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofivers...p/t468079.html