Is this article about uninstalling the activation key of any help

In reply to a post by scopio:

..... if it is bootable!....

It is a bootable ISO with all the tools you'll need and much more. Much easier than messing about with dBan etc.

I hadn't noticed you had already wiped your personal data (i.e. non-Windows files) by using Active@Kill.

That being the case you've done more than enough for a safe sale.

If this has become more of a learning exercise you might also consider using

unetbootin http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

to create a bootable usb stick from the parted magic iso.

http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.p...

You'd need at least a 512MB usb stick.

This assumes your laptops bios allows boot from usb.

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

Is this article about uninstalling the activation key of any help

Very good article and easy to do if I wanted to leave Windows in the HDD.

I could also password the setup utility and the HDD, then the ony way to log on would be to reset the CMOS by opening the case, if it can be done on a laptop!

Thanks

Thanks, I will look into it, and yes I can set the pc to boot from USB in the BIOS.

Just had a look at the two links you added, Excellent. Thanks.

In reply to a post by scopio:

..... I could also password the setup utility and the HDD, then the ony way to log on would be to reset the CMOS by opening the case, if it can be done on a laptop!

Not a good idea!
Most laptops have a hidden partition from which you can reset to factory defaults.You'll probably need to have made the restore disks for this as the Win7 installation will almost certainly have destroyed the custom MBR and or hidden partition.
If the hidden partition/MBR is shot, use the COA sticker located underneath the laptop to install a copy of the original OS (Vista Home Premium OEM?).

Edited by Deadbeat (Thu 21-Jun-12 15:57:47)

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I could also password the setup utility and the HDD, then the ony way to log on would be to reset the CMOS by opening the case, if it can be done on a laptop!
...

In my limited experience getting to laptop internals is fiddly, time-consuming, and error prone. If you haven't done it before I reckon I'd set aside 4-6 hours to disassemble/reassemble a laptop to find the cmos battery. I'd only try it on a laptop I was going to junk.

Is this your model? http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins154...

In reply to a post by john2007:

...
I could also password the setup utility and the HDD, then the ony way to log on would be to reset the CMOS by opening the case, if it can be done on a laptop!
...

In my limited experience getting to laptop internals is fiddly, time-consuming, and error prone. If you haven't done it before I reckon I'd set aside 4-6 hours to disassemble/reassemble a laptop to find the cmos battery. I'd only try it on a laptop I was going to junk.

Is this your model? http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins154...

Yes that is my model, it only has 150GB HDD! Not suitable now adays!
My othe pc I built myself 3 years ago and installed a 1TB HDD and that is half full! But I can add another 5 SATA HDD's if necessary, which I won't, perhaps one or two smaller capacity ones for back ups.
Thats the whole idea I wouldn't have to do it, as the laptop is being given away to Tesco for recycling! I am not keeping it or giving it to friend/s or people I know!

If you know any one who had an IDE or SATA hard drive enclosure. Take out the hard drive and connect it to this using someone elses,s pc or laptop and reformat it clean then put the hard drive back in.