PCFix: System Protection plus

Hello PCFix, I have a Dell Latitude D420, and it says that “the system is protected by an authentication system, please type in the system or administrator password and press enter”, what can I do? Kayode

Answer

Hi Kayode, you should know first of all that the computer BIOS has been locked with a password (this is the first level of security on a computer), and as such you cannot get past the initial boot screen to load the operating system software.

You will need to get the password from an administrator of the computer, if however that is not possible, you can take the computer to an expert who will verify you are the owner of the computer before removing the password from the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS).

This is done by opening up the computer, removing the Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) battery which holds all the information saved while the computer is powered down including but not limited to time and date, preferences.

Depending on the brand of the computer, the computer maintenance expert may have to perform a reset on the motherboard of your computer in order to return it to the factory state, and this will remove the password that is set.

Secondly, all the changes mentioned above only happen on the motherboard and the BIOS, nothing is done on your hard drive where the operating system software and your data reside. As soon as the BIOS password has been removed, you will be able to get access to your data as soon as the operating system software boots up (provided there is no password on the operating system software as well; if there is, another level of password removal will be employed by the maintenance expert (that will not be discussed in this column for security sake).

It is good practice to password your devices so as to protect your data in the case of misplaced or stolen devices; this will make it relatively harder for folks to get a hold of your data and use it for unscrupulous means.

The first level of security for your computer is the BIOS, the second level is the hard drive (certain BIOS software allow you to password your hard drive as well), the third level is your operating system software, the fourth level is encryption of your data inside your operating system software, and the fifth level is to back up your files remotely (on servers across the globe through services offered by Google Drive, Apple iCloud, Dropbox, Norton Online Backup, and more). You will do well to employ at least three of the above security measures on all your devices, as some of them will save you a lot of headache and money.

 

Free King James Bible

Hello PCFix, how and where can I download free KJV bible version and Oxford dictionary for my Nokia C-200 phone? Odunayo

Answer

Hi Odunayo, your phone is a Java phone which means the software that will work for it (apps) will have to be the .jar files; you can find hundreds of such files at www.getjar.com or m.getjar.com and you can download as many apps, games and themes for your phone as soon as you choose your phone brand and model on the website.

Please ensure that you have enough storage space on your device in order to enjoy optimal performances from the downloaded apps and games. 

Alternatively, you can visit www.mobile9.com for more apps, games and themes. You should exercise caution when downloading free apps as some of them come with adverts (that is why they are free) and these adverts can impact significantly on your data usage (if you are on a budget data plan), as such, you should read the terms before clicking on the download button.

Also, do not download apps you don’t need and if for any reason you do, please delete as soon as you do to free up space on your device as too many apps can significantly reduce the performance of the device. You should also perform a regular back up of your device by making use of the Nokia Suite for Windows operating system-powered computers, or built-in mail and calendar software for Mac OS and Linux users.

Also, if your SIM card comes with a backup option, by all means, subscribe for it and use it regularly, it will make recovery easier for you in the event your phone gets spoilt or lost.

 

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