Its a 8 yr old windows 98 machine and I want to clear it out and wipe it clean but leave Windows on it and maybe the MS programs on it (Word, Excel) so they can use it.  I don't have any of the discs anymore.  Please help me get it ready to sell without leaving any of my tracks on it.\n Thanks ;-)
138825
download C cleaner at http://www.ccleaner.com.\n\nit's free, light, easy to use and you can choose what to clean.
367593
Go to microsoft.com, and download the microsoft installer clean up utility.\nInstall it\nclick Start -> Programs -> Windows cleanup utility\nSelect Photo Gallery, and click remove.\nreboot and be happy.
114566
Sounds like the previous owner had a Dual Boot system - Win98 & Win2K. If you want to use the entire 10GB disc space for Win 98 it would be best to reformat the Hard Drive and then reinstall the Win 98 OS. You can download a "Boot Disk" for any operating system from "Bootdisk.com" or create one from the Win 98 CD. Be sure you have all the Drivers for your hardware; mouse, video card, CD-R/RW, etc.\n\nSorry, but you will have to reinstall everything. On the bright side though, you will have a clean system and no bugs, viruses, malware and so on.
490323
The Operating System, usually Microsoft Windows, is licensed to you. So theoretically a new user of the machine will have to buy their own version.\nWith this in mind the easiest way to give yourself peace of mind is to remove the hard drive and replace it with a new one. Obviously you will have transfered the data to your new machine first.\nYou can chose to put in a new hard drive of the same capacity or a greater capacity (to make it more saleable) or even ask the prospective buyer.\nAlternatively, download this free utility called 'Eraser' from:\nhttp://www.eraser.heidi/eraser\nThis can be configured to overwrite (erase) the contents of the hard disk. But remember that the O.S. is still licenced to you.\nIf you want to subsequently destroy your old hard disk the most reliable tools are an electric drill, HSS bits, and a hefty hammer to break up the platter of the drive.
192228
it's very important that the hard drive be thoroughly "cleaned" first.  I don't mean to blow out the dust -- I mean to erase all the data, and possibly reinstall Windows if you think the computer may be useful to someone.\n\nSchools may accept them, or possibly Goodwill.  There are companies that will accept computers and related hardware and give it to charities for you.  If you let us know the general area where you live (Toledo, Phoenix, Glasgow?) someone may have more specific ideas.
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If you are able to use the old disk drive with the old installation of windows xp on it then it is the simple task of using the following free software to recover your product key.\n\nhttp://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml\n\nBut if that is not possible to do that then a call to microsoft customer services will help you as long (as you have a real copy of windows).
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First make a copy of it, then put the copy in windows/system32. Most of your .dll files are there. If thats not it you still have a copy. Make another copy and put it in windows/service pack files/i386.
40605
Go to start\nClick my computer\nRight click on local disk (c:)\nclick properties\nclick on general tab\nclick on the disk cleanup button toward the bottom right\nWait for it to do its thing \nWhen the next page opens click on the more options tab\nUnder windows components click the cleanup button\nCheck the accessories and utilities box\nClick on the details button toward the bottom\nCheck the games box\nClick on the details button\nCheck the box for every game you want\nClick ok\nclick ok\nClick the next button on the bottom to install the games
24723
If it's windows.\n\n\nYou need to run disk clean up. Click on My Computer and highlight the drive you want to clean. Do a right click and select properties. Run disk clean up.
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All the other things will stop working if you wipe it clean and start over. However, you should be able to re-install a legitimate copy of Windows over top of the existing one and everything in the registry for the other programs will be kept, and the programs should still work....even if they are counterfeit.\nMine came with XP Home Edition already installed.
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You can sell (or donate) an old PC but don't be surprised at how little it is now worth. You should remove your old hard drive and install a brand new one so that your personal information is not being passed along with the machine.\n\nMany big PC buyers have an arrangement in the purchase contract where the vendor takes the old machines off their hands as part of the sale so they don't have to deal with the issues of what to do with them.\n///
374522
If it is new it may still be under warranty. But, Microsoft comes with a built in Disk cleanup and Defragmenter.\nYou could try the System Restore which takes you back to a time when your computer was working good. Go To: \nstart\nprograms\naccessories\nsystems tools\nsystem restore\nThis process is completely reversable. And does not remove your personal files. Just go back one checkpoint at a time until your puter is working good again.\nThen to keep your computer clean try this.\nOne should do a  disk cleanup everyday and defrag two or three times a week if the computer is used moderately. Try this. \nYou may need to do a Disk Cleanup..and be sure you have all the boxes checked.... \nDefrafg your C drive or what ever is your \nmain harddrive... Make sure you have selected the C Drive.... This is called a Disk Defragmenter... \nGo to : Start... \nprograms.. \naccessories... \nsystem tools..\nDo this often... \nE\nE
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You have to have the CD that came with Windows XP. A tutorial of how to reinstall is found: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html\n\nAlso, if you don't have the cd, sorry, it is EXTREMELY expensive, and a used copy won't work. Therefore, you are about $100-$200 dollars out.
216541
Bollox,  all your answers are Bollox, Except one. I'm not being abusive, but look at the state of it! A Mess.. the guy asked for information to help solve the problem, not to be told to reinstall Windows!\n\nROX has the best answer here, by far. I mean, It's helpful for god's sake!\n\nGeeze...
205857
application file .. humm... if it's .exe file then ...4get it...\nyou could try by rename it.. but ..seriously..\nyou better clean thouse to give life to other exe application files.. coz it will infect them in notime..\nI think saving is the best option rather taking the risks of destroying the rest so .. have a clean SWEEP.
3305
if you have windows 2000/XP then you can when booting press F8 and then choose last good known configuration (this option is ment for cleaning and restoring the last good registry you had before)
549123
If you did not delete the files from Windows Me during the installation, you might be able to remove Win 2000 through the "Add-Remove programs" in control panel.\n\nBut why do you want to remove it?\n2000 is better than Me as far as I know.\n\nAnd why do you have a problem with XP if you have Win 2000?