How do I create a user on an operating system which is on a different hard drive

[mattrumsby]

My friend has leant me his mum's old PC and I want to create a user on the operating system so I can remove all the data on the drive so it can be sold. I don't have the password to my friends mums Microsoft account for obvious reasons so I'm stumped on what to do, I have a PC of my own if I can do anything with that can anyone let me know.

 

[rgd1101]

If there is no data to recovery, just reinstall the os

 

[mattrumsby]

The thing is that there is stuff on it that they didn't remove which they didn't think to remove before they gave it to me

 

[rgd1101]

remove or recover?
if they didn't need it, just format the drive.

 

[USAFRet]

For a system you are selling, you really need to do a full wipe and reinstall.

Is there anything on this drive you/they need to keep?

If not, do a full reinstall of the OS, wiping all the existing partitions when you do.
If yes, then take the drive out, use a USB dock, copy anything off it that you/they need.
Then, do a full reinstall of the OS, wiping all the existing partitions when you do.

 

[mattrumsby]

remove or recover?
if they didn't need it, just format the drive.

I want to keep the operating system

 

[USAFRet]

remove or recover?
if they didn't need it, just format the drive.

I want to keep the operating system

No, you need to do a full wipe and reinstall.
Unless you do that, there WILL be some parts of the original users in there.
Registry keys, etc.

For a system you're selling...full wipe and reinstall.

 

[RolandJS]

Unless you are a power user with registry cleaning and explorer operations -- the advice of the previous posters must be followed.