how to password protect system

[smokewarlock]

how do you put in a password so that no one can turn system on or rather get it to boot unless they have the password

 

[FAQ]

in BIOS there's options so that after it does the basic memeroy check and boot detection, it asks for a password......

dunno if that's what you wanted

 

[geeman]

none of the bios password protection is secure though since they disappear when you clear the bios.

 

[DoctorBooze]

Yeah, but no OS-based password is any good either unless your encrypt the hard disc with a strong encryption key stored separately (e.g. smartcard or at least on a floppy). You can always put a padlock on the case to stop someone wiping the BIOS password.

 

[Ulubula]

You may like to consider this, although it's shareware...
AbsoluteLock
ZDNet has a whole section dedicated to security apps. as I imagine most downolad sites do...