Dell CMOS Password Setup Hangs with Microsoft Mouse 8.2

 Last reviewed: November 22, 1994
Article ID: Q84749
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

When you use the Microsoft mouse driver version 8.2 for MS-DOS (MOUSE.COM or MOUSE.SYS which comes with Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1) with Dell CMOS's system password set for "after boot," the computer may hang after the password has been entered and any external command is executed (any executable).

Dell has confirmed this to be a problem and is researching solutions.

MORE INFORMATION

Mouse Driver in AUTOEXEC.BAT

If the mouse driver is used in the AUTOEXEC.BAT 

   C:\WINDOWS\MOUSE.COM
then after the computer starts and you enter your password, the system will lock up after you press ENTER for any external command. This problem will not occur for any internal command (DIR, CD, and so on).

Once the computer has locked up, pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL will not have any effect.

Mouse Driver in CONFIG.SYS

If the mouse driver is used in the CONFIG.SYS file 

   DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\MOUSE.SYS
the system will lock up when you start the system and the mouse driver will be reported as not loaded.

Note: At this point it will be necessary to start with a system disk that also contains a CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

If the system password is set to be activated "before boot," then the problem does not exist.

How to Activate Dell CMOS Password

The Dell CMOS setup is activated by the following keys pressed simultaneously: 

   CTRL+ALT+ENTER
To get to the screen containing the password options, press the following keys simultaneously: 

   ALT+N  (N = next screen)

KBCategory: kbhw kb3rdparty
KBSubcategory: win31
Additional reference words: 3.10 hang dead lock

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Last reviewed: November 22, 1994
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