Fresh computer reboot with Windows 7 Ultimate?

[coohjay]

So I'm trying to sell my computer, it has The Windows 7 Ultimate OS on it. Is there a way to fresh restart my computer but still have the Windows 7 Ultimate OS on it. This is so my customer can have it free of all my software.


Thanks

 

[USAFRet]

So I'm trying to sell my computer, it has The Windows 7 Ultimate OS on it. Is there a way to fresh restart my computer but still have the Windows 7 Ultimate OS on it. This is so my customer can have it free of all my software.


Thanks

Do you have the install media and license key?
Just do a whole fresh install, wiping the drive when you do.

And for transfer to the new owner, you have to give him the install media, the license key, the COA, etc.
And you can't continue to use that same OS license.

 

[crinkdude]

Reinstall or uninstall all installed programs create a new user account and delete the old one.

 

[coohjay]

Reinstall or uninstall all installed programs create a new user account and delete the old one.

Wow seems so simple, but it must work. Thanks.
Would I have do delete everything off my hard drive too?

 

[coohjay]

So I'm trying to sell my computer, it has The Windows 7 Ultimate OS on it. Is there a way to fresh restart my computer but still have the Windows 7 Ultimate OS on it. This is so my customer can have it free of all my software.


Thanks

Do you have the install media and license key?
Just do a whole fresh install, wiping the drive when you do.

And for transfer to the new owner, you have to give him the install media, the license key, the COA, etc.
And you can't continue to use that same OS license.

I bought this computer with the OS already on it

 

[crinkdude]

Well after deleting the user account, go make sure the folder is also deleted to make sure. C:\users...

 

[coohjay]

Well after deleting the user account, go make sure the folder is also deleted to make sure. C:\users...

Thanks man

 

[USAFRet]

So I'm trying to sell my computer, it has The Windows 7 Ultimate OS on it. Is there a way to fresh restart my computer but still have the Windows 7 Ultimate OS on it. This is so my customer can have it free of all my software.


Thanks

Do you have the install media and license key?
Just do a whole fresh install, wiping the drive when you do.

And for transfer to the new owner, you have to give him the install media, the license key, the COA, etc.
And you can't continue to use that same OS license.

I bought this computer with the OS already on it

And did they give you the license key, etc? I ask, because Win 7 Ultimate is pretty unusual and expensive to include with a used PC.

So....Find your existing license key with this: Belarc Advisor - http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Once you've found it, go to Microsoft here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery
Enter your license key, and hopefully you can download the ISO file. Use that to create your install media.

If that thing at MS says no go, you may not have a valid OS license. If that is the case, either sell it to them without a Windows OS, or buy one and install it, or install a Linux OS.
Don't pass on a potentially pirated OS.

But try it first before you make any determination.

 

[USAFRet]

Simply uninstalling applications and creating a new user may or may not get rid of everything related to *you*.
Very often, an uninstall leaves things behind in the Registry.

Wipe and reinstall is the only way to be sure.

 

[bitwright]

If you are selling this to a stranger and not someone you know and trust, I would recommend at least zeroing out the hdd and then reinstalling Windows. Just because you delete something doesn't mean that data is unrecoverable. Writing zeroes to the drive will at least give you some protection against basic undelete tools.

 

[coohjay]

If you are selling this to a stranger and not someone you know and trust, I would recommend at least zeroing out the hdd and then reinstalling Windows. Just because you delete something doesn't mean that data is unrecoverable. Writing zeroes to the drive will at least give you some protection against basic undelete tools.

How do I zero out the HDD

 

[USAFRet]

If you are selling this to a stranger and not someone you know and trust, I would recommend at least zeroing out the hdd and then reinstalling Windows. Just because you delete something doesn't mean that data is unrecoverable. Writing zeroes to the drive will at least give you some protection against basic undelete tools.

How do I zero out the HDD

DBAN or similar, and then the clean Windows install like you're going to do.