YACQ - New Drive and New OS for computer

[DaveH]

Yet Another Computer Question.

I have an older machine that work gave me, I want to give it to a friend who is not computer savvy. I want a legit new copy of windows.

For security reasons I either need to wipe the drive completely and install a separate new OS, or I prefer, just to be extra safe and because I like magnets, install a new hard drive and take apart the old drive.

How do I get the least cost legit install of windows? Can I install it directly from the CD drive with no existing OS?

Edit: I probably need a modem card and wireless card too. (Has ethernet card already)

Thanks

 

[Bob W]

If you reformat the hard drive and install Windows from scratch, there's no practical way for your friend to access the old data on the computer. Probably even in the category of "not possible" since he's not an expert computer user.

Cheapest way to get Windows purchased for him would be an OEM copy, about $85 for XP Home at NewEgg. You will have to buy a piece of computer hardware to qualify for the OEM purchase though - a hard drive, stick of RAM, anything.

If it's an older machine, it might not meet the system requirements for XP. There's no registration process for 98SE, so you can just install it from a disk you already have.

Best Luck,
-Bob

Edited to add: For an extra precaution, there's a software security program that will write "0"s over the entire hard drive and overwrite all of the old data. Don't remember what it's called, but it should be easy to find via Google.

 

[Bob W]

Edit: I probably need a modem card and wireless card too. (Has ethernet card already)

Depends on what kind of Internet/networking he plans on using. For dial-up, he'll need a modem with a phone jack if the computer doesn't have one already.
For DSL he'll need a network card - modem is usually supplied (bought or rented) by the DSL service.
I doubt he'll need a wireless card, at least not right away.

-Bob

Just wanted to add a big Thumbs Up for helping a friend and finding a good home for that unwanted computer.

 

[bladefixation2]

Edited to add: For an extra precaution, there's a software security program that will write "0"s over the entire hard drive and overwrite all of the old data. Don't remember what it's called, but it should be easy to find via Google.

i use BCWipe

I would definately recommend either destroying the hard drive or using a secure wiping utility such as BCwipe if the computer has been a corporate machine

 

[jerrinfla]

Yet Another Computer Question.

I have an older machine that work gave me, I want to give it to a friend who is not computer savvy. I want a legit new copy of windows.

For security reasons I either need to wipe the drive completely and install a separate new OS, or I prefer, just to be extra safe and because I like magnets, install a new hard drive and take apart the old drive.

How do I get the least cost legit install of windows? Can I install it directly from the CD drive with no existing OS?


Thanks

Just remove the dos and non-dos partitions on the drive and create new ones. That will take care of the safety factor. Formatting the drive will not make the old data unrecoverable, re-partitioning it will.
Did it have windows on it to begin with? You need to know how much ram is intalled and how much drive space is available. And a new install of windows would require the correct drivers for the hardware the system used, ie; sound, video, network interface card drivers, ide bus drivers, etc.
Bear in mind when you buy a new computer or build one with new parts, you get disks that contain all the needed drivers. Doing a fresh install of windows on an older computer may go very easily for you or may have you pulling out your hair, depending on how many drivers needed for the install are stock, built in drivers included with windows.

 

[DaveH]

It is an HP Visualize 866 and had XP on it, but it's about 6 years old. He may or may not be close enough to downtown for free wireless, I'll have to ask him.

$85 for windows hmm, maybe I'llp play around with linux.

 

[Bob W]

maybe I'llp play around with linux.

That's exactly what Linux is good for. But I wouldn't recommend it for a new computer user.

BTW, $85 is a good deal; a retail copy at WalMart costs $10 more than that.

IMO, the best low-cost solution (ie Free) would be to install Windows 98SE from a disc you already have.

-Bob

 

[Nordic Viking]

Look under the computer, you might have the OEM license and product key. All our HP's / Compaq's do.

 

[Chiller2]

If you reformat the hard drive and install Windows from scratch, there's no practical way for your friend to access the old data on the computer. Probably even in the category of "not possible" since he's not an expert computer user.

Cheapest way to get Windows purchased for him would be an OEM copy, about $85 for XP Home at NewEgg. You will have to buy a piece of computer hardware to qualify for the OEM purchase though - a hard drive, stick of RAM, anything.

If it's an older machine, it might not meet the system requirements for XP. There's no registration process for 98SE, so you can just install it from a disk you already have.

Best Luck,
-Bob

Edited to add: For an extra precaution, there's a software security program that will write "0"s over the entire hard drive and overwrite all of the old data. Don't remember what it's called, but it should be easy to find via Google.

When I bought my OEM version of XP home from new egg they added the lowest priced hardware they had (a powersupply splitter) and then deducted the cost on my order.