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ukbertie · Apr 30, 2009, 07:29 AM

Hi I have just bought a new lap top and wish to sale my old one , how do I clean up the old lap top i.e. get back to what is was like when I first bought it , I have taken all the programs off but need to clean the hd so all my passwords and web sites are gone ,
Its running vista basic

ScottGem · Apr 30, 2009, 07:34 AM

Did the laptop come with a Recovery CD or a Recovery partition?

ukbertie · Apr 30, 2009, 07:35 AM

Yes it did but I have mislaid it

ScottGem · Apr 30, 2009, 08:22 AM

Many laptops have a recovery partition. When you power up they may be a choice to enter that partition. From there you can do a reset to factory settings. Otherwise your best bet is to find the recover disk.

ITstudent2006 · Apr 30, 2009, 05:40 PM

I doubt that if it came with recovery Cd's (automatically that is, the O.P might have ordered them) that it would also have a recovery partition.

Manufacturers aren't courteous enough to include both in packaging. :)

Rick

But yeah without a recovery disc. Or partition your options of completely getting it back to default is slim. You can do a restore back to as far as it will go but I doubt that it will got back more than a couple months. (mine doesn't anyways)

Rick

P.S. If you have no partition or if you delted it (like myslef) then I would try my hardest to find them discs.

ukbertie · Apr 30, 2009, 11:45 PM

I have now found the disk it came with x 2
one says application and driver recovery dvd .
and the other supplemtal software
which one do I use ?

ITstudent2006 · May 1, 2009, 09:24 AM

I don't believe either of those are the recovery cd's. Sorry!

Rick

ukbertie · May 1, 2009, 10:31 AM

Thanks for trying , I've taken it to a computer shop and they said they would do it for £20

ITstudent2006 · May 1, 2009, 10:46 AM

Is that like $20USD? If so I am wondering what they're going to do for only $20.00?

Rick

But good luck with it anways.

ScottGem · May 1, 2009, 11:24 AM

Actually at the current exchange rate that closer to $40 USD.

I suspect that what they are doing is a clean install of the OS, something that would require a tech to spend not even 15 minutes of his time.

ITstudent2006 · May 1, 2009, 11:48 AM

Oh... ok $40's better. Well not better for us but makes more sense!

Rick

ukbertie · May 2, 2009, 12:48 AM

Hi Its 20 uk pouinds and yes they will reinstall op
It took him no more than 10 minutes
But at least it has wiped all my data off