Personally I would go one step further & zero wipe the disk(s) entirely
using this free tool.
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
Just boot from the CD it makes & type "Autonuke" to wipe all disks on the
machine.

"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:%234HZMUPaHHA.4520@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> BeachgalSuz wrote:
>
>> I am the Librarian at my children's school. A parent saw that the
>> library didn't have a computer, so she bought one at a yard sale.
>> She said that the man told her the computer works "just fine". He
>> even gave her the Windows XP Home Edition disk, in case there were
>> any problems. Well, we decided it was best to re-install Windows XP
>> due to problems.
>
>
> Good! If I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do with it
> would be to reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how
> the computer has been maintained, what has been installed incorrectly,
> what is missing, what viruses and spyware there may be, etc. I wouldn't
> want to live with somebody else's mistakes and problems, possibility of
> kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend that anyone else do either.
>
>
>> It downloaded perfectly,
>
>
> No, to "download" is normally to transfer a file from the internet to your
> computer. You mean "it *installed* perfectly."
>
>
>> but I keep getting the
>> message to complete registration. The problem, WE DON'T HAVE THE
>> INTERNET AT SCHOOL!! How can I register the product?!?
>
>
>
> Don't do it. Registration is completely optional and has no benefit to
> you. It is only used for Microsoft's marketing purposes.
>
> It's "activation" that is required, and I'm sure that's what you mean.
>
>
>> I thought about bringing the computer home and using my connection,
>> but would that make the computer registered to my account?
>
>
> No. Activation is completely anonymous. It ties the operating system to
> the hardware, not to a person.
>
> You can do that, or, more easily, just take the option to activate by
> voice call to an 800 number.
>
> --
> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
> Please reply to the newsgroup
>