I'd zero wipe the drive to ensure that the previous owners data was gone.
I would want no trace of their data on the machine.

"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:e0Q5v0XaHHA.4220@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Richard wrote:
>
>> 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.
>
>
> Why? There's no reason to do that if you reinstall Windows and keep the
> computer. Tools that that are for people who want to give away, sell, or
> discard their computer (or drive) and feel somewhat safer (the tools are
> never perfect) that nobody will be able to see their deleted data.
>
> --
> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
> Please reply to the newsgroup
>
>
>
>>
>> "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
>
>