How can I get rid of all traces of a netbook's previous owner?

You're probably not choosing the full recovery option. Most hidden partitions give you two options. A. a recovery of the OS and keep programs, personal files and user names intact. B. You fully format the drive and install the OEM copy of Windows with their crapware.

There is no way the previous owner could have created an OEM recovery partition with his name still intact. A backup image of course, but that's not what we are instructing this poster to do (use a backup image, I mean). Good luck!

Or they will send me a disk for free. I chose the second option.

Go with the Free disks for start, as will get a cleaner install from disks.

I've never heard of disks requiring a password so just boot the first one and see what happens. You can wipe the HD first and reset the CMOS if there are any problems:
SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Be aware that you also have an option to get a much cleaner install by finding a Win7 retail installer to clean reinstall with the Product Key on COA sticker. The steps are here: Reinstalling Windows 7

I'm new here and said I have absolutely no experience with Windows 7, but that does not mean I am entirely stupid about computers.

As I said in several posts I did the full factory restore that was supposed to wipe all old data from the hard drive. I did the same thing again twice with Samsung's tech guy on the phone. He seemed knowledgeable, and told me it doesn't always work. I should have pressured him into telling me exactly why it didn't work, but my guess is the recovery program failed to re-format Drive C.

I don't think the guy I bought the netbook from would have any reason to modify the restore program, even if he knew how.

If anyone has a link to a 32 bit format utility that will work on a USB thumb drive I would like to try re-formatting Drive C, then running the recovery program when I get home.

Gregrocker, I know you are giving me good information. But I did not understand much of what was in your earlier posts. I will follow the links in your last post when I can read them on something larger than a 7" screen.

If you don't understand something then ask questions until you understand it clearly. Most of the steps I give are accompanied with highlighted links to illustrated tutorials. These will walk you through the steps with our help.

winsupertweaker said:

You're probably not choosing the full recovery option. Most hidden partitions give you two options. A. a recovery of the OS and keep programs, personal files and user names intact. B. You fully format the drive and install the OEM copy of Windows with their crapware.

There is no way the previous owner could have created an OEM recovery partition with his name still intact. A backup image of course, but that's not what we are instructing this poster to do (use a backup image, I mean). Good luck!

It makes absolutely no sense to me why Samsung's Recovery Solution 4 (that came installed on the netbook) created the first recovery point after first run. But that's no longer an issue. Neither is the disk Samsung sent me.

The problem got resolved, although not the way I thought it would. I was at the local Staples store to purchase a USB thumb drive when the tech guy told me he would change the Administrator Name and password for $10.00. I dropped it off the next morning and picked it up in the afternoon.

I am now in the process of deleting unnecesary crapware and setting the netbook up the way I want it.

Glad you got it done for you, and I'm sorry you were unable to understand the steps I gave you or ask back questions to make them clearer.

Here are some tips to Clean up factory bloatware

Greg, thanks for the concern. A lot of times the solution to a problem comes down to the amount of time it takes. I'm certain your tutorials would have resulted in a better installation, but I don't have the time to devote to the learning curve right now.

I will follow your link for cleaning up factory bloatware. Some of the programs that came with the netbook seem to duplicate features that are already in Windows 7. I debated getting rid of McAfee because I prefer it over other anti-virus programs I have used on my desktop computer. I was surprised how much faster the netbook ran after running the McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool (MCPR.exe) and turning on Microsoft's anti-virus.

MucAfee removal solves problems we see here almost every week.

Let us know if there's anything else, and when you're ready to try a Clean Reinstall - which is a great learning experience that will jump you up to Enthusiast level.

You'll also know you're getting the best install possible with our help. We're here when you're ready.

gregrocker said:

MucAfee removal solves problems we see here almost every week.

Let us know if there's anything else, and when you're ready to try a Clean Reinstall - which is a great learning experience that will jump you up to Enthusiast level.

You'll also know you're getting the best install possible with our help. We're here when you're ready.

Thanks, I will be doing that on a couple of desktop computers (and probably a laptop too) starting around the end of next week.