Windows 7 Installation - Prepare PC to be Sold

Excellent Tutorial!

This method is a killer thread for thieves (Out-of-Box Experience)!

NoN said:

Excellent Tutorial!

This method is a killer thread for thieves(Out-of-Box Experience)!

Click to expand...

As so many other things around software in general and Windows in particular, it can also be used with criminal intention.

However, thieves do not need this method. They simply clean install new OS, not caring if new owner can recover old owners files.

Method described in this tutorial is legal and valid. Using the argument I highlighted in your quote we could also say we should not have tutorials describing the installation process in general because the criminals can also learn how to install a new OS on a stolen PC.

Kari

Great tutorial Kari, thanks.

Will use this if I can ever manage to part with my older machines.

Great Job as always, Kari !

I should have waited for this tutorial to be published before I have sold my older PC as hardware a couple of months ago

Thanks a lot Kari, I'm about to get rid of a Dell desktop I no longer use.

Thanks, geeks. I find this method of preparing a computer to be given away or sold quite practical and wanted to share the know-how.

Kari

Very nicely done Kari. A very valuable tutorial.

Regards,
Golden

Kari, excellent tut. Been looking for this forever. I had no idea how people did it.

Question though. I'm selling to an elderly lady... and don't know if she'd be capable of inputting the activation number herself. Can I, during audit mode, activate windows with the key on the bottom of the computer?

Also, wireless networks that are connected to during audit mode - are the passkeys remembered after creating a new user and logging in?

Last question: If I change the wallpaper in Audit mode, does the customer see that wallpaper when they finally log in as their new user?

Thanks!

All modifications on appearance like wallpaper, theme, sounds etc. done on Audit Mode do of course only apply to the built-in administrator account, the user account used when in Audit Mode. If you want to set Windows completely up to someone else, you need to create user accounts and modify those accounts. In this case I recommend you ask the old lady which username she wants to use and go through OOBE welcome phase, creating that account.

Activation can be done on Audit Mode. Also the network or domain credentials are saved but, as with wallpapers, only to built-in administrator account. Each user account most have the initial first time login to network or domain to set and save credentials.

Kari

Which computer (new vs old) handles which processes?

Great tutorial. Four newbie questions if you will permit me...

1. After wiping the disk (CLEAN ALL), I would need to create a new partition before installing the operating system, is that correct?

The reason I ask is as follows... I am selling my old computer for which I have the Windows XP installation disk. I have a new computer which is running Windows 7. I am in the process of completing the CLEAN ALL command on my old computer's hard drive (which I have inserted into my new computer as a secondary disk). Assuming that completes OK (it's nerve wracking staring at that flashing cursor for 60 minutes without any way of monitoring progress), the next step would be to create a partition on my old drive.

2. I wanted to give it the drive letter "C:" (seems to be standard) but that drive letter is already in use on my new computer, not sure if that would work?

3. If I put my old hard drive (without any partition) into my old computer there would be no way to install the OS, is that correct (i.e. I have to create the partition using the OS on my new computer)?

4. If I create the partition on my old hard drive from my new computer in Windows 7, I can still install Windows XP, is that correct (i.e. the creation of the partition is not really tied to the OS)?

Thank you in advance!

When you have wiped the old hard drive, remove it from the Windows 7 computer and install it back into the old computer.

Boot into Windows XP for a clean install on the old computer.

During the install process you'll be able to partition the drive as you want. Windows will automatically allocate the drive letter C to the drive.

Do not try and install Windows XP to the old drive while it is still installed in the Windows 7 computer otherwise you'll mess up the Windows 7 boot files.

Install Windows XP

Excellent, glad it works that way!

It might be helpful (not sure if I am qualified to make suggestions) for OP to add a note to step 2 of Phase 1 of this tutorial that you may ignore the setting up of partitions in the tutorial that is referenced (unless perhaps my case is unique)?

After the CLEAN ALL completed, when I go back into Disk Manager, it says: "You must initialize a disk before Local Disk Manager can access it." Should I complete this "step" now, or do this with the old hard drive in the new computer during the installation of Windows XP?

Lastly, could someone tell me if the CTRL + SHIFT + F3 Audit Mode step described in the tutorial also works in XP?

Again, thank you!

Creating partitions during installation is so basic procedure I see no point in adding information twice. Phase 2 step 1 links to an installation tutorial where all relevant information is given.

Remember that you can install Windows simply by selecting Unallocated Space (=wiped, empty HD) when installation asks where you want to install.

You can enter Audit Mode from XP simply by running command sysprep /audit /reboot if existing system, or by giving username System when installation stops to ask initial username (no password). This enters XP desktop without creating any user accounts. From there use sysprep /audit /reboot to enter Audit Mode.

Kari

Just quick query Kari before I get to the naming of the machine I clean any drive using the DISKPART method that WHS uses for SSD's and sometimes a wipe with the Partition Wizard and then just install.

Am I just going a bit over the top??


Oops sorry didn't catch that ref to DISKPART at the start

DISKPART CLEANALL = Partition Wizard wipe : essentially no difference between the two

Golden said:

DISKPART CLEANALL = Partition Wizard wipe : essentially no difference between the two

Click to expand...

Thanks Golden I am by nature a bit of an overkill sort if you didn't know that already LOL!! Ended up DISKPART- ing the drive as for some reason the PW wouldn't couldn't "see" it.

Anyway all up and running.

Exceeeelent ! Thank You !

You are welcome, Smeyers2.

Kari

Sorry to reply to an old thread but is there a similar process in Vista? I searched the Vista forum but couldn't find anything about this, and it's a brilliant way to retire and give away an old machine.

Regards.