2006-06-19 02:58:41 · 11 answers · asked by kayke00 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
To answer your first question about having it reformatted. I think that you should definitely reformat it. You don't know how well the other person took care of it, therefore it could be infected with spy-ware and viruses, which will affect the performance of the computer, and some of these will collect information from your computer.
I am assuming that you already have an operating system (Windows 2000, XP)
You do not need a pro to do this. It is really simple. When you turn on the computer, just insert the CD into the CD-ROM and you will see on the screen a message that says...
Press any key to boot from CD...
At the following link you will find the steps on how to do that
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm
2006-06-19 03:13:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe not by a pro, but definitely reformat.
Files created by the old owner may have been deleted, but until the drive has been reformatted and rewritten, they are still accessable. Who know WHAT that person had that you could be potentially responsible for...
2006-06-19 03:02:51 · answer #2 · answered by gemthewitch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
be careful when u reformat...windows xp might not come w/ all of the drivers that your computer needs to run properly (or up to par), specifically the motherboard drivers and/or any dvd-rom drives.
if its a custom built pc, he should've given you all the necessary driver cd's and such. but if its, an oem pc (dell, gateway, hp, etc), you might be better off ordering for a recovery cd which is about $20.
2006-06-19 05:07:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reformat that hard drive yourself, it is not that hard.
Before you go ahead and do it, if you can still boot up that PC make sure you go online and get the drivers for all your devices and put them on a Cd and burn that disk before deleting that hard drive with all the drives in it.
2006-06-19 03:39:01 · answer #4 · answered by Pochowired 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do you need a pro to do this. Just insert a bootable CD of win XP and start all over again. Its recommended to format and start fresh new when you buy a used PC. There might be viruses, spyware and even keyloggers. why take risk......
2006-06-19 03:03:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do computer work (www.duelwave.com) and I can tell ya, re-doing your computer is easy with a windows 2000 or XP, or a Linux like ubuntu. Just read and follow the directions closely and you be fine. If you really want to pay someone to do it, it can cost $100 on up according to who you go with. Your last option, get a friend that knows this stuff, and have him hook you up!
2006-06-19 03:21:29 · answer #6 · answered by Briant D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nah, just remove/restore the partition(s) and reformat.
2006-06-19 03:00:33 · answer #7 · answered by Bors 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would use a maxtor low level format utility. then fdisk into 4 partitians. format with ntfs reinstall your os and drivers and your **** will not smell too bad.
2006-06-19 03:34:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if u have a bootable windows cd u can do it urself its really easy with the xp one it does it for u no fdisk involved
2006-06-19 03:00:56 · answer #9 · answered by meowbaby7 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No point to hiring someone to do the same thing you could easily do yourself.
2006-06-19 03:37:19 · answer #10 · answered by kurtrisser 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋