Re: Clean-up computer and reinstall Win XP Pro

philo wrote:
"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:jc8rk3l578sm0cbro3bbmosei5acdsfjdo@xxxxxxxxxx
On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:31:35 -0600, "philo" <philo@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:


"Tony Vella" <tony.vella@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:vYWdnaErWbk1TdHanZ2dnUVZ_qygnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I bought a used laptop that has Windows XP Pro on it plus all
kinds of other stuff most of which I never even heard of. What I
would like to do is get rid of everything except Windows XP Pro
and then install my Microsoft Office 97 and nothing else. I also
want to put the machine in my name and not have to use a password
every time I turn it on. Can anyone please direct me to some page
some place that teaches me how to do the *safely*. The previous
owner did not have Win XP CDs because the laptop is a Compaq and
like all Hewlett-Packard machines came with Windows pre-installed.
The laptop has a CD reader but not a burner.

When recommending a site, please bear in mind that I am a 63 year
old geezer and not the sharpest tool in the shed.



Just uninstall any unwanted applications from add/remove programs
(in the control panel)


Sorry, but I think that's poor advice. With a used computer, he
*should* reformat and reinstall Windows cleanly. He has no idea how
the computer has been maintained, what has been installed
incorrectly, what is missing, what viruses and spyware there may be,
etc. I
wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes and problems,
possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend that
anyone else do either.

True enough but the OP specifically said he does not have the install
cd... so I answered the question in the context from which it was
asked.

Part of the context was:

The previous owner did not have Win XP CDs because the
laptop is a Compaq and like all Hewlett-Packard machines
came with Windows pre-installed.

If this is accurate, then OP should use the method Compaq provided, most
likely restoring the original image from a hidden partition.

To the OP: What is the model number?


.

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