How do I clear a laptop of the previous owners setup & files

virgin_moneysaver

Hi all - I'm after a bit of help

My F-i-L passed away a few months ago & we're thinking of giving his laptop to our youngest but I need help in clearing it of everything so it appears like a new one - I don't want him to find any surprises!!

My first problem before I can clear anything is that for some reason it won't connect to the internet via the wireless router we have in the house

what's my 1st step?

thanx

Reggie_Rebel

The best way would be to reload Windows from scratch.

Do you have an installation disc?

kwikbreaks

I'll second the suggestion to reset it to the original install.

There is usually a recovery partition on reasonably modern laptops and at boot time you should see the option to get into that instead of just booting windows.

On some there is even a desktop icon which will get it to reboot into recovery mode from a running windows.

virgin_moneysaver

we had no discs with it but can I use the windows XP installation disc that came with my desktop?

kwikbreaks

It isn't normal to get a proper install CD with any machine these days - are you sure it is a proper Windows install? If so and it is the same as is on the lappy (home or pro) you can use it and type in the key from the sticker on the lappy and it should be fine so long as you can locate any non-standard drivers.

Have you checked to see if you can just use the recovery partition which most machines come with these days - if you can you don't need to worry about keys or drivers.

virgin_moneysaver

well I'm really in a jam now - I put in my windows installation disc & agreed for the old windows to be deleted - it downloaded from the cd but now says

windows could not start because of the follwong file is missing or corrupt-

<windows root>\system32\hal.dll

please reinstall a copy of the abve file

I've got nothing like this - now what do I do?

devizes18193

looks like a job for linux then http://www.ubuntu.com/

virgin_moneysaver

if i have to take it somewhere to get it going again can anyone recommend PC world as they're the only outlet near to where we live

KingL

virgin_moneysaver wrote: »

well I'm really in a jam now - I put in my windows installation disc & agreed for the old windows to be deleted - it downloaded from the cd but now says

windows could not start because of the follwong file is missing or corrupt-

<windows root>\system32\hal.dll

please reinstall a copy of the abve file

I've got nothing like this - now what do I do?

Do the install from the CD over again. Put the CD in and restart the machine.

Reggie_Rebel

virgin_moneysaver wrote: »

if i have to take it somewhere to get it going again can anyone recommend PC world as they're the only outlet near to where we live

Find an independant PC chap. There will probably be an advert in your newsagent.

Failing that take it down the local school and collar a couple of Year 10's, they are more likely to get it going than PC World

virgin_moneysaver

after 3 attempts the windows xp finally loaded & from appearances looks like a fresh start for my boy - all thats on the desktop is the icon for the recycle bin -

BUT

I'm still having trouble with the internet - the machine is not locating the wireless router its not letting me turn on wireless

any ideas?