I think I followed all your advice. I hope I didn't miss anything important. You guys are so great for helping me and everyone else on the board. I can't thank you enough.
Janice On 5/31/11, Donk <[email protected]> wrote: > I really think you'll be ok giving the PC away. Didn't you say it was a > lady who wanted it for her kids? Not likely a criminal, heh. > > If you're an average user, you likely won't have any info on your drive > that would be dangerous if seen by someone else. Online banking and > credit card info is all stored on servers online. Unless you use a > financial program that stores info on your hard drive - most important > stuff is only online. > > Here's some stuff you might want to delete: > 1. go into whatever browser you use (internet explorer?) and delete all > the cookies and temp internet files, and favorites. > 2. if you use a hard drive based email client (like Thunderbird or > Outlook) you might want to empty all your email folders. If you use an > online email service like gmail, you don't have to worry because all > your mail on stored online only. > 3. delete any personal photos or music or documents. These are usually > found under Start, My Documents. Just open each folder, go to the Edit > menu, choose "select all", then go to the file menu, press the shift > key, and choose delete. (if you hold down the shift key when you click > delete the files won't be sent to the Recycle Bin, they'll be totally > deleted from your drive). > 4. click on the Recycle Bin on your desktop and delete all the files in > there. > 5. Go to Start, Control Panel, Add-Remove Programs. Scroll down the > list and uninstall any programs you don't want to give away - if any. > > Mike's suggestion about Ccleaner is good. But be careful about what you > tell it to delete - it can mess with the registry and system files and > mess up your XP installation. > I think you'll be fine, and it's a good thing you are doing by passing > on the PC to someone in need. > > Good luck, > Donk > > > On 5/31/2011 5:38 PM, Janice D wrote: >> I just tried that and it didn't work. I did have a friend work on my >> computer. I know he put in more memory but I don't remember what >> else was done. If I deleted all the files, do you think it is safe to >> give away? >> >> I really appreciate all this help >> >> Thank you >> Janice >> >> On 5/31/11, Donk<[email protected]> wrote: >>> The F10 method should work, unless... the hard drive has ever been >>> replaced, or reformatted? >>> If you've still got the original hard drive, try holding down F10, and >>> then pressing the power button (while still holding down F10). You def >>> should come to a menu with an option to restore the PC. >>> >>> The F10 method is the same as finding the HP Utility suite from within >>> windows - it's just a different way to get to the same place. >>> >>> The "restore" points you mention are not a way to totally erase the >>> computer. Those are just to go back to a recent date in case a problem >>> crops up. They don't erase anything except some of the system files. >>> >>> But try F10 again. Unless the hard drive has been altered, you should >>> be able to do a restore without any disks. >>> >>> Good luck, >>> Donk >>> >>> >>> On 5/30/2011 10:57 PM, Janice D wrote: >>>> Hi Donk, >>>> >>>> It didn't work pressing the F10 key and I don't have the license key to >>>> use >>>> the discs. >>>> >>>> Here is what I copied from the site you gave me: When I go to Start, >>>> All >>>> Programs, there isn't an HP tools or PC system recovery >>>> >>>> Is this unusual? >>>> >>>> [image: hide] >>>> Recovering from Windows XP >>>> <http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph07145&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=461232#N81> >>>> Use the following steps to recover the computer from the Windows XP >>>> desktop: >>>> >>>> 1. Backup files from the My Documents folder and from other folders >>>> you >>>> may have created. >>>> 2. Disconnect all connected devices (such as the Personal Media >>>> Drive, >>>> USB drives, printer, and fax), remove media from drives, and remove >>>> any >>>> recently added internal hardware. Do not disconnect the monitor, >>>> keyboard, >>>> mouse, and power cord. >>>> 3. From the Windows XP desktop, click *Start* , *All Programs* , >>>> and >>>> then >>>> one of the following options: >>>> >>>> *NOTE:* The following options are for HP computers. Compaq >>>> computers >>>> will >>>> have similar options (for example, Compaq Tools). >>>> - *HP Tools* , and then *HP PC System Recovery* . >>>> - *Hewlett-Packard* , *hp pavilion pc tools* , and *hp pc system >>>> recovery* . >>>> - *PC Help& Tools* , and then *HP PC System Recovery* . >>>> A recovery Welcome screen appears. >>>> 4. Click *Yes* or *OK* to continue the recovery process. >>>> The computer restarts to the recovery program. If another welcome >>>> screen >>>> is displayed, click *OK* to continue. >>>> 5. Select one of the following procedures, depending on which >>>> recovery >>>> type you want to perform: >>>> - To perform a system recovery, click *Next* , and then click *Yes* >>>> - To perform a destructive recovery, click *Advanced* , (select >>>> *Destructive >>>> Recovery* ) and then click *Next* . >>>> >>>> *CAUTION:* * A destructive recovery will format the hard drive. >>>> This >>>> will delete all the information on the hard drive and reinstall >>>> Windows XP >>>> and the original software that came with the computer.* >>>> 6. Read and respond to each window and screen that appears. >>>> 7. After the System Recovery is complete, the computer restarts and >>>> continues into Windows setup. Complete the setup screens and wait >>>> until the >>>> PC finishes the setup. >>>> >>>> *NOTE:* It may take a long time to complete Windows setup. This >>>> time >>>> varies and may take over several hours. Recovery times are most >>>> affected by >>>> using recovery discs that were ordered from HP and/or the amount of >>>> files >>>> that were stored in the user account folders (for example, My >>>> Documents and >>>> the Desktop). >>>> 8. Before using your computer, update and protect your computer. >>>> For >>>> more >>>> information, refer to Things To Do After Performing a System >>>> Recovery >>>> in >>>> Windows >>>> XP<http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/doclink?lc=en&cc=us&product=461232&tmp_docname=c00276693>. >>>> 9. Re-install applications that you added after purchasing the >>>> computer, >>>> and any files that you have backed up. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Mon, May 30, 2011 at 10:26 PM, Donk<[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> It appears your model does have the built-in recovery partition. You >>>>> can start it by pressing the power button and quickly tapping the F10 >>>>> key until you come to a menu. >>>>> Here's a link to the HP support site for your PC, and what to do if the >>>>> recovery fails: >>>>> http://bit.ly/izhq3h >>>>> I'm not sure what the menu options will be, but one of them should be >>>>> to >>>>> completely erase and restore the PC. >>>>> >>>>> Before you start it's important to make the PC exactly like it was when >>>>> you first turned it on the day you bought it. That means disconnect any >>>>> devices you've added since then - such as personal media drives, >>>>> printers, scanners, cameras, camera-type memory cards, and other >>>>> devices >>>>> that did not originally come with the PC. It's a good idea to even >>>>> unplug your internet cable (unless you've got wireless of course). If >>>>> the recovery finds any unfamiliar hardware it might freeze up and stop >>>>> working. >>>>> >>>>> If the worst case does happen, and you're left with a PC that won't >>>>> boot, you can possibly call Microsoft and try to talk them into giving >>>>> you a new key to reinstall from your XP disk. I dunno if they'll do >>>>> that or not since XP isn't even officially supported anymore. >>>>> >>>>> Let us know how it goes? >>>>> Good luck, >>>>> Donk >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 5/30/2011 10:05 PM, Janice D wrote: >>>>>> Hi Donk, >>>>>> >>>>>> It is the Pavillion a1000y >>>>>> >>>>>> I can't do it with the disc because I do not have the license key. >>>>>> Please >>>>>> tell me the few clicks to try. I hope it works. This woman really >>>>>> needs >>>>> it >>>>>> for her kids and it's been just sitting here. I would love to see it >>>>>> go >>>>> to >>>>>> good use, but I can't take any chances giving it away not knowing >>>>> everything >>>>>> is cleared off of it. >>>>>> >>>>>> Janice >>>>>> >>>>>> On Mon, May 30, 2011 at 6:44 PM, Donk<[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> What model HP is it? Most HP's come with a quick way to restore it to >>>>>>> the way it was the day you bought it - without using disks and just a >>>>>>> few clicks. It uses a hidden partition on the harddrive to install >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> original factory default image. It's a lot faster than reinstalling >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> whole OS - but if it fails you can still install XP from your disks. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Good luck, >>>>>>> Donk >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On 5/30/2011 11:53 AM, Recycle Diva wrote: >>>>>>>> Hi, >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Somebody asked for an old windows 98 computer for their kids and I >>>>>>>> have >>>>>>> this one sitting around but don't want to get rid of it until I do a >>>>>>> complete recovery to remove whatever I have on there. I don't >>>>>>> remember >>>>> how >>>>>>> to do it. Can you help me? >>>>>>>> Thank you. >>>>>>>> Janice >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> ------------------------------------ >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> If you have any questions or problems with any aspect of this site, >>>>>>> please feel free to contact me directly [email protected] Please do >>>>> not >>>>>>> post personal issues directly to the group. >>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this list, send an email to >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>> Thank you for using A-1 Computer TechYahoo! 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