The present application relates to performing operations on a computing device having a restricted mode of operation and an unrestricted mode of operation. A first input sequence comprising a correct authentication code and a command code is obtained while in the restricted mode of operation. The device executes one or more special operations associated with the command code while the device remains in the restricted mode of operation. The device transitions to the unrestricted mode of operation upon obtaining a second input sequence comprising a correct authentication code, and in the unrestricted mode of operation the device may execute one or more regular operations.