Do you make a fresh install BEFORE or AFTER cleaning a second-hand rig?

[thekingofmonks]

I always test found PCs before cleaning so I can evaluate whether it's worth it or not. I wonder if everybody does the same.

[airborne spoon]

i wanna see what the prev owner left on there. I've found all sorts of crap, its fun to see how many people thing putting files in the recycle bin is the same as actually deleting them. I always turn it on with no internet connection and just peruse around all the files out of curiosity. then I'll go an wipe the whole thing and install an OS.

[TetraSky]

Really depends.

If it's filled with so much garbage to the point the OS chugs along... I do a clean install. Otherwise, I can test just fine by first disabling most stuff from booting with windows.

[Falkentyne]

What do you mean by "Cleaning"?
You mean physical cleaning from dust and grime and other nasty stuff?  Or the operating system itself?

[Needfuldoer]

I'll boot and test the OS it already has, or a Ubuntu live DVD.

 

Then if it's functional, it gets a clean install. Who knows what unspeakable horrors lurk deep in the heart of somebody else's PC...

[RollyShed]

Just do an install (of Linux obviously !!!) as that must wipe things as it reformats the disk to ext4.

 

However an offer of a number of free desktops has been delayed because they have SSDs and SSDs have back up to the backup and the original owner's question is, can it be proved that everything is off the disks before passing the computers on.