Wiping a computer completely.

Tomorrow my sister wants me to wipe her computer for her and take it back to factory settings because it's going back to the shop. Her husband got her a computer a few weeks ago and when she tried to do some updates the other day she found out that the copy of windows on the computer was actually an illegal copy As he had paid £380 for it (just the tower not the screen and keyboard or anything) she made him take it back the other day and demand his money back. The people at the shop weren't very pleased and had the cheek to say he knew what he was getting - which he didn't cos my brother in law hasnt a clue about computers at all Anyway they have agreed to give him £350 back for it. I think that £380 was a terrible price to pay for a computer with illegal windows on it so she has photos on it and wants them wiping off before it goes back.

So how do I take it back to factory settings - is it the same as it would be for my computer do you think.?

Same method Foxy!

There are so many pirated versions of Windows floating about on Ebay also-you really have to be careful what you buy nowaday.

My sister just bought a really decent computer from Dell with a 17" flat screen monitor.....all for £347 including operating system. Ordered on Sunday arrived on Thursday!

I nearly got caught on e-bay too, clicked the buy now option, THEN read his feed back......decided I would rather have one negative on my feedback, than a dodgy copy of XP, no where in the description did it say 'copy'

No this was bought from a computer shop near to where my brother-in-law works thats what she couldnt understand, how a shop could get away with doing this.

Thanks Steve - just hope it works tomorrow

Happened to us from a shop as well. Sold us something that was used and sold as new. Happens unfortunately. Glad they're getting their money back though

You should also report them for piracy in order to stop other unsuspecting customers from getting caught out.

https://www.microsoft.com/uk/piracy/form/default.aspx

Proper PC manufacturer's provide a 'recovery' disk which basically restores the hard disk back to factory settings - installing the operating system and device drivers in one go. Crooked 'Back street' PC manufacturers may not provide the same facility.

Software such as Eraser can help wipe the disk.

From: http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/quickstart.php

Just tell the shop that you had to delete personal stuff off the hard drive, so you wiped it

Okay thanks Roy I know I can always get expert advice from you

I don't think she got a recovery disc with it - think it's like my computer where you have to press a key when it's starting up which is F11 on my computer.

Would I be able to copy that Eraser thing to a disc and then put it in her computer? It wouldn't take anything off which they put on would it?

It's a zip file which you install onto her PC. It has various options, one of which is to completely and securely wipe the entire disk. This is the best bet, as it will remove everything, including login details to web sites etc that she may have visited. It removes everything, including the operating system. You can always say that you erased everything, including evidence that it was a pirate copy of Windows XP - can't see them objecting to that .... {although best tell them only after you've got the money back}

So would it erase the pirate windows as well then cos I think I had better leave that on because they might not take it back if it isn't given back in the condition it was sold in.