Deleting Win XP Home so I can return this machine

  • Thread starter Thread starter J Thinkpad
  • Start date Start date
J

J Thinkpad

I just picked up a "special deal" from Computer Geeks. It is a "unbranded"
HP computer. It is really nice but they have removed "everything" I can use
to get an ID on this machine for drivers. They called it "unbranded" Well,
now I want to take off my XP Home before I return this POS to them for a
refund. How do I delete it? I don't see it anywhere.
Thanks in advance. You get what you pay for...
J. ThinkPad
 
J, I am sorry to say, that this will not be very easy if you are not good
with computers. You will have to reformat your hard drive and wipe out
everything. I'm not sure if you can reformat using your WIN XP CD without
reinstalling Windows, but if you can follow the instructions to reformat. I
recommend going to the local computer store and buying a program that will
reformat your hard drive (and wipe out everything). Good luck.

-Chris
 
DriveScrubber
http://www.iolo.com/ds/index.cfm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I just picked up a "special deal" from Computer Geeks. It is a "unbranded"
| HP computer. It is really nice but they have removed "everything" I can use
| to get an ID on this machine for drivers. They called it "unbranded" Well,
| now I want to take off my XP Home before I return this POS to them for a
| refund. How do I delete it? I don't see it anywhere.
| Thanks in advance. You get what you pay for...
| J. ThinkPad
 
J said:
I just picked up a "special deal" from Computer Geeks. It is a
"unbranded" HP computer. It is really nice but they have removed
"everything" I can use to get an ID on this machine for drivers. They
called it "unbranded" Well, now I want to take off my XP Home before I
return this POS to them for a refund. How do I delete it? I don't see
it anywhere. Thanks in advance. You get what you pay for...
J. ThinkPad
Click to expand...

You don't really delete an operating system. If you didn't have any data
on the drive that you care about, just boot with your XP cd and format
the drive. If you want to do a total scrub, then the free Darik's Boot
and Nuke will do the job.

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

I'm assuming that this was a "barebones" PC and you had a retail version
of XP Home yourself and aren't referring to an operating system that
came with the machine. Obviously if the machine came with the operating
system, you'd need to return that too.

Malke
 
I just picked up a "special deal" from Computer Geeks. It is a "unbranded"
HP computer. It is really nice but they have removed "everything" I can use
to get an ID on this machine for drivers. They called it "unbranded" Well,
now I want to take off my XP Home before I return this POS to them for a
refund. How do I delete it? I don't see it anywhere.
Thanks in advance. You get what you pay for...
J. ThinkPad
Click to expand...
Have you tried Lavalys EVEREST to get the drivers?
http://www.lavalys.com/products/overview.php?pid=3&lang=en
or
ChipInfo
http://www.pcanalyser.com/eng/products/download/download.html
or
UnknownDevices
<http://web.archive.org/web/20050205222855/www.halfdone.com/Development/UnknownDevices/>

---------------------------------------------

Driver resources: Use the above info to download the drivers at:

Karl`s Driver Site
http://www.karldavis.com/

http://www.driverguide.com/ Click "member login"
Login: drivers
Password: all

If you can find an FCC number on the card, you can also search for it at the FCC web
site to find out who manufactured/marketed the part: http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid/
https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm

---------------------------------------------

If you want to wipe the drive, look here:

Secure Data Disposal - ThinkVantage Technologies
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=TVAN-SDD

Download Secure Data Disposal:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/license.do?filename=thinkvantage_en/sdd_setup.exe

Secure Data Disposal (SDD) is a Windows tool used to build IBM PC-DOS boot floppies for the
purpose of wiping hard drives. Each boot floppy utilizes the Scrub3 DOS executable to facilitate
securely disposing of data on a system's hard drive.
 
J said:
I just picked up a "special deal" from Computer Geeks. It is a "unbranded"
HP computer. It is really nice but they have removed "everything" I can use
to get an ID on this machine for drivers. They called it "unbranded" Well,
now I want to take off my XP Home before I return this POS to them for a
refund. How do I delete it? I don't see it anywhere.
Thanks in advance. You get what you pay for...
J. ThinkPad
Click to expand...


The normal way to "uninstall" *any* operating system is to format
the hard drive and install a new OS of your choice.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry
 
HP doesn't sell unbranded computers. I know because I work for them. It's
very likely that you have either received a used computer, or it's stolen
goods, or you stole it yourself.

If you want further information on the box, look at the motherboard. On it
there will be a part number. You can go to the HP site, and put in the first
5 letters/numbers of that part number, and the site will tell you which
model# you have. You can also see the model# on the display when the machine
boots.

So my friend, I have to assume that you are either blind, or you are the
person who stole this computer, and it won't let you in because it has been
passworded at the power on level.

I suggest that you return it to the store where you bought it, get you money
back, and then call the cops on that store. HP would probably like to know
about it too. You can reach HP by looking in your phone book.
 
By the way, if the Hard Drive has been passworded, you can forget formatting
it. Once the hard drive has been passworded, there is no way that the drive
can be unlocked, not even by HP. The drive would have to be replaced.

Like I said, I know because I work for HP.
 
By the way, if the Hard Drive has been passworded, you can forget formatting
it. Once the hard drive has been passworded, there is no way that the drive
can be unlocked, not even by HP. The drive would have to be replaced.

Like I said, I know because I work for HP.
 
It is possible to unlock drives that have been locked or "passworded" Google
for unlock xbox drive.

Kerry
 
so you work for Hp do you "I know cos I work for hp" much as I really hate to
stoop to your level as you are accusing people stealing without knowing squat
about squat, I have been a business customer of hp for years and have often
purchased debranded pcs from them when they surplus stock they wish to
dispose of at reduced prices, they debrand as part of the offer is it comes
unbranded with no warranty, so I would therefore suggest that in the future
before you start slinging mud you double check your facts, I'm guessing you
answer a phone somewhere on behalf of HP and that you know squat about their
operations as is made abundantly clear by your posts
 
J Thinkpad said:
I just picked up a "special deal" from Computer Geeks. It is a "unbranded"
HP computer.
Click to expand...

So whats not working??

In most cases the drivers packaged with XP seem to be OK.
 
If the shoe fits.....
As for HP selling unbranded machine, we don't do that. It's nice to see you
are having problems, as you certainly deserve them. Thieves deserve what they
get. And further, if you are a business Customer of HP, you are one Customer
that we don't need. Imagine what our business would look like if all our
Customers were like you. Anyway, in one moment you claim to be an employee,
and the next a Customer. The fact, by your own admission is that you have a
machine that you bought from some place that supplies you with unbranded
equipment, and so if even that is true, then you richly deserve the
predicament you are in. If your machine wasn't stolen, then why don't you
call HP for help....oh..sorry, that would be too obvious. Betcha Microsoft
would be happy to know you are probably running a pirated version of their OS
too.

Anyway, everyone here knows the truth of what I am saying, and if you give
me your name, and addres, I'll do you a favour, and send the police to
collect your equipment.
 
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