factory settings

[anne_ek]

how do i reset to factory settings. I was clearing pc to give to someone and i seem to have cleared a bit too much it wont do anything at all now

[vehelpfulguy]

If you are giving someone a PC it is a good idea to format the hard drive and re-install Windows.

If you dont do that all sorts of information about you can be stored on the machine, even if you think you have deleted everything.

Files you thought you deleted can still be there, passwords for your bank and other organizations can still be there, web sites you have visited can still be there and so on.

Normally if you buy a PC it comes with a restore CD so you can rebuild the PC using that.

If you get the chance during the restore, choose to format the hard drive.

[anne_ek]

thanx vehelpfulguy but its a second hand pc so didn't get a disc with it, daughter says i'm barred from her pc for life. lol