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second-hand computer
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second-hand computer
Friday, February 6, 2004 at 3:15 am
Posted by abnash (52 messages posted)

A friend of mine purchased a second-hand computer from a hospital. The problem is the hospitals old files and programs are still installed (although she cannot and doesnt want to access them) Is it safe for her to uninstall these programs (or most of them) and install windows xp?

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Tip: Run a free scan for common Windows errors ad

re: second-hand computer
Friday, February 6, 2004 at 3:28 am
Posted by scifi fred (4 messages posted)

reformat and install a new os of your choice on it


On Friday, February 6, 2004 at 3:15 am, abnash wrote:
>A friend of mine purchased a second-hand computer from a hospital. The problem is
>the hospitals old files and programs are still installed (although she cannot and
>doesnt want to access them) Is it safe for her to uninstall these programs (or most
>of them) and install windows xp?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

re: second-hand computer
Friday, February 6, 2004 at 5:05 am
Posted by Kevin (2497 messages posted)

Yes, with one caveat.  If the PC is running an older operating system, it may not 
be capable of running XP.  Check the Windows XP home page for hardware requirements. 





On Friday, February 6, 2004 at 3:15 am, abnash wrote: >A friend of mine purchased a second-hand computer from a hospital. The problem is >the hospitals old files and programs are still installed (although she cannot and >doesnt want to access them) Is it safe for her to uninstall these programs (or most >of them) and install windows xp?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

re: second-hand computer
Friday, February 6, 2004 at 5:12 am
Posted by L Esl (879 messages posted)

Whew! Sure glad it's highly unlikely that me and mine didn't have medical care at THAT facility!! Hate to think of what else they might have left lying around for the casual observer to see if they sold parts of their computer system complete with files (:


On Friday, February 6, 2004 at 3:15 am, abnash wrote:
>A friend of mine purchased a second-hand computer from a hospital. The problem is
>the hospitals old files and programs are still installed (although she cannot and
>doesnt want to access them) Is it safe for her to uninstall these programs (or most
>of them) and install windows xp?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

re: second-hand computer
Friday, February 6, 2004 at 5:26 am
Posted by triplate (20746 messages posted)

Happens all the time...go to any puter junkyard and pick up a couple hdd,s.....you wont believe what you find on them..;)


On Friday, February 6, 2004 at 5:12 am, L Esl wrote:
>Whew! Sure glad it's highly unlikely that me and mine didn't have medical care at
>THAT facility!! Hate to think of what else they might have left lying around for
>the casual observer to see if they sold parts of their computer system complete with
>files (:
>
>

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re: second-hand computer
Friday, February 6, 2004 at 7:54 am
Posted by Dan Sarandrea, MCSE (4310 messages posted)

Narc on 'em!  ;-)

Otherwise, if you have one of the "utility" packages (Norton System Works, OnTrack, 
VCom System Suite, etc), they usually include a hard disk overwriting tool or other 
"file shredder" type of tool.  Recommend several passes, then fdisk /mbr to get somewhere 
close to "bare metal."

Then install OS of choice and enjoy.

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