Windows xp vs windows 7 starter

[Midnitewarrior4]

I have i netbook with windows 7 starter and i want to sell it but it wont let me factory reset it so i was wondering if i put windows xp if it would decrease the value ?

[OfficialJsP]

yeah no one will want it if you put WinXP on it well unless they want to put their own OS on it

[Midnitewarrior4]

Yeah, idk wat to do anymore cause it wont let me factory reset it so all my files and shit are on it, u know any other way to get rid of all the files ?

[Midnitewarrior4]

yeah no one will want it if you put WinXP on it well unless they want to put their own OS on it

^

[c3p0]

XP is out of support. It would decrease the value.

[OfficialJsP]

Yeah, idk wat to do anymore cause it wont let me factory reset it so all my files and shit are on it, u know any other way to get rid of all the files ?

 

 you could just clear all of your files, music and pic everything like that off of the netbook and sell it as it is

[terrytek]

XP IS DEAD. DEAL WITH IT. 

 

*sobbing*

[Midnitewarrior4]

you could just clear all of you files, music and pic everything off of the netbook and sell it as it is

thats the thing idk what files contain my stuff and which contain files for the pc cause non of them are labeled its just all differant symbols when i click on the hdd in the file menu. If i created a new user as administrator and then deleted my profile would it get rid of all my files and programs that my profile had ?

[OfficialJsP]

thats the thing idk what files contain my stuff and which contain files for the pc cause non of them are labeled its just all differant symbols when i click on the hdd in the file menu. If i created a new user as administrator and then deleted my profile would it get rid of all my files and programs that my profile had ?

 

no that would not work

[Midnitewarrior4]

no that would not work

would it atleast delete the files ?

[OfficialJsP]

would it atleast delete the files ?

 

i think it will work but i am not to sure i have never really done it also you could uninstall all of your programs that are not essential 

[FizzyFantom]

On Windows 7 it is possible to delete the user data when deleting a user. This includes the documents, music, pictures and other similar files, as well as the appdata for that user. That being said it only erases them as deleting them from Windows does and wouldn't really be secure, for that you should destroy them with a shredder program. The Public folder and your programs would remain intact, but you could uninstall them. Unfortunately because it is Windows 7 Starter you cannot do a clean install with the OEM licence because you cannot download a Windows 7 Starter ISO (not legally at least).

You will probably find it very difficult to install Windows XP at all, let alone get it working properly, so your best bet is to clean up the current installation using some proper secure erasing software (and proably several days of work).

Best of luck

[Midnitewarrior4]

On Windows 7 it is possible to delete the user data when deleting a user. This includes the documents, music, pictures and other similar files, as well as the appdata for that user. That being said it only erases them as deleting them from Windows does and wouldn't really be secure, for that you should destroy them with a shredder program. The Public folder and your programs would remain intact, but you could uninstall them. Unfortunately because it is Windows 7 Starter you cannot do a clean install with the OEM licence because you cannot download a Windows 7 Starter ISO (not legally at least).

You will probably find it very difficult to install Windows XP at all, let alone get it working properly, so your best bet is to clean up the current installation using some proper secure erasing software (and proably several days of work).

Best of luck

well i already deleted my user but now idk what to do, cause i dont know which files to delete

[Midnitewarrior4]

If i have another notebook with windows 7 starter could i get the windows and do a fresh install on the one im trying to wipe

[FizzyFantom]

If i have another notebook with windows 7 starter could i get the windows and do a fresh install on the one im trying to wipe

Sadly Windows Starter doesnt work like other versions, and you can't get an installer for it.

What files are you concerned about getting rid of? Clean out your public folders, remove your programs and make sure you clear up anything you've put in places other than "Libraries" and the desktop.

Edit: If you're really worried about people getting hold of the data on the drive you could DBAN the whole thing then install Windows 7 Home Premium as a trial. This WILL reduce the value of the system as the person you sell it to will need to buy a new Windows 7 license to use the PC, but it will get rid of all the data on the drive so it cannot be recovered. Just note that this cannot be reversed and I wouldn't really recommend it unless there is super valuable data unaccounted for on the PC.

[Midnitewarrior4]

Sadly Windows Starter doesnt work like other versions, and you can't get an installer for it.

What files are you concerned about getting rid of? Clean out your public folders, remove your programs and make sure you clear up anything you've put in places other than "Libraries" and the desktop.

Edit: If you're really worried about people getting hold of the data on the drive you could DBAN the whole thing then install Windows 7 Home Premium as a trial. This WILL reduce the value of the system as the person you sell it to will need to buy a new Windows 7 license to use the PC, but it will get rid of all the data on the drive so it cannot be recovered. Just note that this cannot be reversed and I wouldn't really recommend it unless there is super valuable data unaccounted for on the PC.

ok the thing is my stepdad had the laptop for a bit and he did all of his banking and other shit so idk what files he had taken off and which are still there but ill try my best

[Midnitewarrior4]

Wait if i have the product key can i do a fresh install ?

[FizzyFantom]

Wait if i have the product key can i do a fresh install ?

As I already said, you can't get the installation media for Starter editions, so no.

 

 

ok the thing is my stepdad had the laptop for a bit and he did all of his banking and other shit so idk what files he had taken off and which are still there but ill try my best

You should use a secure file shredding program to delete the whole folder from your browsers under [username]\appdata\local (and probably also roaming). That is where the browser data is stored such as history and saved passwords.

[Midnitewarrior4]

As I already said, you can't get the installation media for Starter editions, so no.

You should use a secure file shredding program to delete the whole folder from your browsers under [username]\appdata\local (and probably also roaming). That is where the browser data is stored such as history and saved passwords.

ok wats a good software for that ?

[FizzyFantom]

ok wats a good software for that ?

I don't know any off hand as I use the secure shredder in Spybot Search and Destroy (legacy, I don't know about S&D 2.0). You should search around (or make a thread on this forum) to find recommendations.

http://www.sevenforums.com/software/57088-good-windows-7-file-shredder.html

[Midnitewarrior4]

I don't know any off hand as I use the secure shredder in Spybot Search and Destroy (legacy, I don't know about S&D 2.0). You should search around (or make a thread on this forum) to find recommendations.

http://www.sevenforums.com/software/57088-good-windows-7-file-shredder.html

i just pit the product key in windows anytime upgrade and it said it was verified and its now upgrading so maybe it will reinstall windows 7 starter ? Idk if it doesnt work ill just shred the files and be done with it

[FizzyFantom]

i just pit the product key in windows anytime upgrade and it said it was verified and its now upgrading so maybe it will reinstall windows 7 starter ? Idk if it doesnt work ill just shred the files and be done with it

You can't get an installer for Windows 7 Starter. Unlike with higher versions Microsoft don't distribute any installation media except to OEMs, so you won't be able to reinstall the OS. You would be best of securely deleting the browser data from the use that was used for banking and such.

 

i just pit the product key in windows anytime upgrade and it said it was verified and its now upgrading

What is it upgrading to? Where did you get the product key from? Is it was on the bottom of the laptop then what version does it say it is for? Answered below.

[Midnitewarrior4]

You can't get an installer for Windows 7 Starter. Unlike with higher versions Microsoft don't distribute any installation media except to OEMs, so you won't be able to reinstall the OS. You would be best of securely deleting the browser data from the use that was used for banking and such.

ya it said upgrade failed cause it was a version of windows that was not compatible with windows anytime upgrade

[FizzyFantom]

ya it said upgrade failed cause it was a version of windows that was not compatible with windows anytime upgrade

That must be Starter edition. You should just securely delete the browser data.

[Midnitewarrior4]

That must be Starter edition. You should just securely delete the browser data.

i cant find the browser data ?