MissT Posted November 13, 2016 ID:1071836 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Hello, I have an old PC (with decent specs though) that is running windows VISTA, which I think must be the worst OS ever. I want to donate this PC to a charity, so would really like to put a better OS on it, but I don't really want to buy one. So, I was wondering - I do have a laptop that came with Windows7 - and I've got the licence key on the back of the laptop - but the laptop was upgraded to Windows 10. Would that Windows7 licence key still work and how could I upgrade the VISTA to Windows 7? Welcome any other good ideas also! Many thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted November 13, 2016 Author ID:1071843 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Hm, that thought never occurred to me. Can you run windows software on these systems? I have no idea if the people who will eventually use the PC will know how to work these OS? I would assume that the charity I have in mind would use it for social media, email, accounts maybe, word, excel, internet.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H. Lipman Posted November 13, 2016 ID:1071849 Share Posted November 13, 2016 There is no upgrade path so you can buy a Win7 OEM disk and install it. You can't port that NB OS license over. Please, define what you mean by "decent specs" for this Vista based platform. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted November 13, 2016 Author ID:1071850 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Hm, that would also solve my erase all data issue - I did a full reset and some partition survived that and all my files are still there! Is there also good anti virus and malware software available for Linux? Sorry for the twenty questions, but if I go down that route I want to hand over a PC that they can use and is safe... Is it an intuitive system? Pretty much everyone knows how to use windows, I remember the pain when I bought a macbook.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted November 13, 2016 Author ID:1071852 Share Posted November 13, 2016 It's an Intel Core (TM) 2 quad CPU @2.4GHz, 3 GB RAM, with NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted November 13, 2016 Author ID:1071859 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Ok, thanks, I'll look into this... If I decide to just hand over the VISTA PC, how can I ensure that there is no private information anywhere to be recovered/restored? I read about using file shredder, would that be the way forward - as explained here? http://www.esecurityplanet.com/views/article.php/3898201/How-to-Completely-Wipe-Data-from-a-PC.htm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H. Lipman Posted November 13, 2016 ID:1071871 Share Posted November 13, 2016 1 hour ago, MissT said: It's an Intel Core (TM) 2 quad CPU @2.4GHz, 3 GB RAM, with NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GS You can Run Win7/32 OK on that. I suggest reformatting ( wiping ) the hard disk and starting from scratch. Win7/32 or some flavour of 'nix. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted November 13, 2016 Author ID:1071873 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Thanks folks. I identified a really good cat sanctuary that might be in need of a PC, so I will see if they'd be happy with VISTA, ok with Linux or if I need to upgrade to 7 (I saw it on Amazon for about 40 quid) before I pass it on. I might be back with more questions once I have established what needs to be done. Many thanks for all your help so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Admin AdvancedSetup Posted November 14, 2016 Root Admin ID:1071927 Share Posted November 14, 2016 I've reopened your topic here per your request. https://forums.malwarebytes.org/topic/189948-pc-stalling-and-problems-with-malwarebytes-wont-uninstall-wont-start-wont-install/ Thank you. Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted November 15, 2016 Author ID:1072279 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Ok, so I've decided not to do anything with the computer, I leave Vista on it, so I just need to clean it up and wipe personal data. I've used eraser to delete everything on my D drive, which seemed to have all the backup files on it still after a full recovery. I seem to have some strange files in the C Drive, not quite sure what they are and if I need to keep them? Doc1.docx Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefox Posted November 15, 2016 ID:1072289 Share Posted November 15, 2016 @MissT Usually best if you upload the image itself instead of a docx document... That being said, if you are talking about the folders that start with 5743a.... and 55b0cef3..... Those folders were created by Windows/Microsoft during an update. They are safe to delete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H. Lipman Posted November 15, 2016 ID:1072291 Share Posted November 15, 2016 (edited) I have high-lighted what can be deleted. You can also.. Go into the Control Panel applet --> User Accounts and create a new Administrator account. Reboot the PC. Logon using that newly created account. Go back into the Control Panel applet --> User Accounts and delete all other Accounts ( Profiles ) and all their data. Then you can pass your computer to the NPO. Edited November 18, 2016 by David H. Lipman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted November 15, 2016 Author ID:1072346 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Sorry, i can't figure out how to upload images, that's why I keep pasting them into word..... When I reset the computer I created a new account (0wner) - can I just delete all the others? Do I need to set up a new administrator account - it doesn't give that option as such in control panel? Doc1.docx Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted November 15, 2016 Author ID:1072350 Share Posted November 15, 2016 While I'm at it - there's another weird file sitting on the desktop (see attached) - can I delete this, too? Doc1.docx Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H. Lipman Posted November 15, 2016 ID:1072354 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Yes. You should make a new profile made to be an Administrator then remove all other accounts/profiles indicating to removing data files as well. When you do that, any files on a User's Desktop, as exampled in your DOCx file embedded graphic, will also be removed. The objective is to remove all used profiles and data on the PC but leave an Administrator account for the NPO to use. That being a newly created account that will allow the NPO to do as they'd like with the system but have zero latent data on the platform. As for your attaching Graphic's Issue... I suggest XnView. With XnView you can paste an object into the program and save it as any supported graphic file format such as a JPEG ( JPG file ) just like the one I posted in Post ID # 17. You can also capture a screen or part of a screen as well as convert supported graphic file formats to other supported graphic file formats. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted November 17, 2016 Author ID:1072918 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Ok, so I've set up a new administrator account and deleted all other accounts. When I go into users though I find this "all users" and when I open it it shows this, do I need to do anything with this? And sorry for the word document again - I installed Xnview but whatever I do I cannot manage to get the captured image to upload/paste etc... Doc1.docx Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H. Lipman Posted November 17, 2016 ID:1072929 Share Posted November 17, 2016 (edited) Leave the system as-is. I have created a video where I use XnView to use the Rectangle Capture feature where I assigned "Alt" + "F11" as the Hot-Key to call-up the screen capture where I then choose the Boundaries of the Capture Area. The below graphic is what I captured in the video and here is that Video --> XnView Rectangle Area Screen Capture.wmv Edited November 17, 2016 by David H. Lipman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted November 17, 2016 Author ID:1072944 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Ok, thanks. I have one last remaining issue. I'm not sure if Windows update is working correctly. I'm checking for updates - looks like it last updated in January. But it seems to be hanging, it has been checking for updates for ages now, so I'm not sure if something is wrong? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H. Lipman Posted November 17, 2016 ID:1072946 Share Posted November 17, 2016 (edited) I suggest you stop there. As long as you leave the OS in its present state, you have done your duty. I don't think you have to go to the Nth Degree before delivery. Especially in light of the fact that Windows Vista goes End of Life in less than 6 months. Edited November 17, 2016 by David H. Lipman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted November 17, 2016 Author ID:1072947 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Ok, thanks, I guess you're right. Since I am donating it to charity I just wanted to make sure to hand over a fully working PC! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H. Lipman Posted November 17, 2016 ID:1072950 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Did that video "help" you ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissT Posted November 17, 2016 Author ID:1072951 Share Posted November 17, 2016 yes thanks a lot definitely learning a lot on this forum. brilliant support here Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H. Lipman Posted November 17, 2016 ID:1072954 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Thanx for the feedback. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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