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11 Replies Last post: May 26, 2007 12:23 PM by jmsfmtex  
Click to view jmsfmtex's profile New Member 14 posts since
Feb 12, 2007
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May 24, 2007 5:00 PM

Erasing ID

I would like to give a laptop to a friend but do not want personal info on the drive. Data such as my name and any log in information. How do I do this without reformatting my entire drive?
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Click to view redhead23's profile New Member 46 posts since
May 21, 2007
1. May 24, 2007 5:40 PM in response to: jmsfmtex
is this windows xp vista? or what?
Click to view redhead23's profile New Member 46 posts since
May 21, 2007
3. May 24, 2007 6:04 PM in response to: jmsfmtex
the only thing i can think of would be making sure the are no passwords save remove the log on password (if you have one) change your log in name to user and that will make sure your "friend" cant get any of you info also check that you have no cookies left on the computer


also may i ask if you dont mind why you dont want to just reformat the drive?

Click to view AuroraDizon's profile Member Moderators 4,014 posts since
Jul 30, 2006
5. May 24, 2007 10:13 PM in response to: jmsfmtex
(tired) standard cookies, temp files, admin name password scan for virus's as well in case there may be a keylogger somewhere on board. Don't forget if you have logged information on messengers and other things of that sort.


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Click to view mphenterprises's profile Member Moderators 9,065 posts since
Feb 19, 2007
7. May 25, 2007 4:50 AM in response to: jmsfmtex
Hi jmsfmtex. The system is telling you accurate information. Your full name was entered when you first installed Windows. I think, I could be wrong, but I think you have to make any administrative changes through the Control Panel under Accounts or User Accounts.

Once you get to that section, you should be able to click on a link that says something like, "Make changes to this account." Once you do that, you should be able to change the User Name there.

If not, I thought this from the beginning but I wanted to remain neutral, I think you may need to just do a reinstall and be done with it.


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Click to view rgreen4's profile Old Hand 3,700 posts since
Oct 22, 2006
9. May 25, 2007 1:35 PM in response to: jmsfmtex
Changing Laptop Names
Confirmed that the initial name entered in Windows is in the Registry. On my XP Home laptop, going into help found a Windows Knowledgebase article that describes changing the registry to change that name.

Webroot's Window Washer would probably take care of everything else, but you would probably have to delete the users. Windows does warn that if you delete a user, or someone other that the user themselves changes a user password, that users files are not retrievable. (Some hacker somewhere probably has a package to do it).

You could probably wipe the disc and reinstall XP using the Certificate number on the bottom of the laptop, but drivers might be a problem, depending on how old the laptop is. If you had access to an XP SP2 disc, and your laptop predated 2004, the drivers might be in XP SP2. Or you could just let the generic drivers load, hook up to the internet, and let the system look for better drivers.

Moral of the stiuation - when you get you new laptop, put the DVD's in a safe place and make copies. If Toshiba is like HP, you will have to burn your own originals. Then make a set of copies. You can only burn one set. If your laptop has never had a CD burned from the orginal installation, you might still be able to do that, but it would take info from someone that knows Toshiba.


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Click to view AuroraDizon's profile Member Moderators 4,014 posts since
Jul 30, 2006
10. May 25, 2007 2:33 PM in response to: jmsfmtex
Try maybe a registry cleaner? Don't forget about the (sorry if its already been mentioned) the 'restore my computer to an earlier time'. I'm not sure if you can erase the save points I can only imagine that you should be able to.


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