UPDATE, PLS HELP! I''ve wiped my NetBook using dban now I can't reinstall windows xp!

Claireybear

Thanks for all your replies, they were really helpful.

I had one of those "why didn't I think of that before" moments when I remembered that my sister had bought the exact same NetBook! So I made the recovery discs from hers, and have installed it, which is a start!

The trouble is, I've now got 2 problems. Firstly, how do i change the registration key back to what it should be, as it now has my sisters registration details? I have searched all the options but can't find a way to do it?

Secondly, mum's computer now has all my sisters pictures etc on it. Which is the best way to wipe these off before she sells it? Will there be traces of my sisters passwords etc too? I thought the recovery disc would just install the basic windows, not all her stuff too!

Thanks again for your help, I must sound really stupid! At least I'm asking for help this time rather than charging in and wiping it all!!!

macman

Has it restored the recovery partition too? If so, do a factory restore back to that.
I think you are confusing 'recovery' with 'restore'.

Claireybear

I think so, how can I tell? I think recovery and restore are not the only things I'm getting confused lol!

zzzLazyDaisy

Try rebooting the computer, and immediately pressing f4 several times before windows has chance to load.

If the restore has returned with the recovery (fingers crossed) then you will be able to follow the instructions to restore it to factory settings.

But I have no idea how that will help you as presumably that will be under your sister's registration then?

Have you phoned samsung?

Lifeforms

Claireybear wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies, they were really helpful.

I had one of those "why didn't I think of that before" moments when I remembered that my sister had bought the exact same NetBook! So I made the recovery discs from hers, and have installed it, which is a start!

Brilliant bit of luck there! But what you've effectively done is clone her netbook onto your mums. No biggie, but as you've worked out, you need to change the key, which i'm hoping is as simple as next reply to quote below.

Claireybear wrote: »

The trouble is, I've now got 2 problems. Firstly, how do i change the registration key back to what it should be, as it now has my sisters registration details? I have searched all the options but can't find a way to do it?

Take the key off the windozey sticker on the bottom of the netbook and follow this:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/help/genuine/product-key

Claireybear wrote: »

Secondly, mum's computer now has all my sisters pictures etc on it. Which is the best way to wipe these off before she sells it? Will there be traces of my sisters passwords etc too? I thought the recovery disc would just install the basic windows, not all her stuff too!

If you can do a factory reset through the posts above, do that. If not, be prepared to spend some time cleaning up the netbook. Turn off system restore. Use something like http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/download/e51576d1c9bf9d34970915659d2b7496/ but first uninstall (not just delete the folder in programs) anything you've all installed, delete files/folders created etc. Remember to remove all paid software, inc any virus scanners (but replace them with avg or avast free). Dont forget to remove all things like firefox. Open windows IE and clear cashe, cookies, passwords etc. It's the very boring, time consuming way. THEN delete restore points, empty recycle bin and use the ccleaner to overwrite whatever free space (not format!) and once happy it's all empty/clean turn on system restore, and create a brand new one of the clean netbook (in case you want to return to it before selling, idk) and delete any random ones that might have snuck in too.

Someone might be able to suggest something that does all this for you. I can't recall what ccleaner did, but it did the job for me, with a few extra tweaks (remove programs etc/files).

Claireybear wrote: »

Thanks again for your help, I must sound really stupid! At least I'm asking for help this time rather than charging in and wiping it all!!!

Bah, you live and learn, most people only know about not doing things because a) they've done it before, or b) they've read about someone who's done it before. *most* messups can be fixed, some easier than others though

Claireybear

Thanks , how did people ever manage before Mse?!

I have tried to do the system recovery but when it gets to the select a restore time screen it doesn't have any options to choose from, just a blank selection box, and won't let me go any further.

Does that mean I need to it the long way, with ccleaner?

paul6361

Hi Claireybear
Hope you are having luck with what you are doing. I have found a program for finding and changing product keys so if you are using your sisters restore-disc you could use this for changing product keys from her key to your key, thats if you have a copy of your key should be on a sticker under the netbook. Have a look at this it tells all about it, how to use etc.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/ss/winkeyfinder-walkthrough.htm

TakeThis

Claireybear wrote: »

Thanks , how did people ever manage before Mse?!

I have tried to do the system recovery but when it gets to the select a restore time screen it doesn't have any options to choose from, just a blank selection box, and won't let me go any further.

Does that mean I need to it the long way, with ccleaner?

Wrong selection. You are looking for Restore Factory or First Image(or similar) once you access via F4.

Claireybear

Right, I'm getting there now!

I've changed the product key (thanks for the Microsoft link) and I've deleted all the program's that aren't needed. The recovery console hasn't got the option to do a factory restore, not sure if that's because it is copied from another computer? So I'm going with the delete everything then use ccleaner option.

Just wanted to check, are there any files that contain data that I need to delete apart from the obvious ones? I've deleted the user account etc.

Thanks

Claire

23n1th

There will b e hidden folders in which have app data that could hold information and save settings. You'll need to edit your folder view options and delete the folders for the programs installed.

If you're using CCleaner you should also use this to enhance it to clean more: http://singularlabs.com/software/ccenhancer/ make sure you know what you're doing though.

I'd also after you've finished uninstalling cleaning clean the registry with CCleaner as well.