Clearing a tower for reuse help?

Hi all,

Hope you are well.

Right, i use a laptop and always have. The other day though i was given 2 towers from computers a friend had in his office he no longer needs and says i can have them and all that i would need to do would be to wipe them as he has had porn on it.

Someone told me to reinstall windows which would be best and that is fine. But im not quite understanding how to. If i plug up my computer to the tower and insert the xp disc into the hdd, wont that install it on my computer? Which is not what im after. Im happy with windows 7, i just want to clear the towers so i can use them to store my own files on.

So, could i just use my laptop as a 'monitor' for the tower and reinstall it that way?

Its really confusing for me but i need to get it right as one of them will be given to my 6 year old and i dont want him seeing anything he souldn't.

Thank you in advance

Andy

 

You have two options here firstly you can hook the new tower to your screen and keyboard in place from your own PC then you will be able to do what you want with the PC.
You could go through the malware cleaning procedure here at MGs and clean the PC http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407 or as you suggested you can format and re-install but if you do not have the original disks from your friend then you will need a new licence.

Or secondly you could purchase a KVM switch (just Google KVM) they start at around $13 for a two port but you can get a 4 port for around $30 by which you will be able to use your monitor and keyboard with all 3 PCs just by flicking a switch.

 

Format the pc (the HDD more specifically), and then install windows on it, that way there will be no danger at all.

At no stage do you need to connect your laptop to any of the towers.

 

I am sorry i missed the part where the OP said he had only a laptop.:-o

he will need a screen and keyboard to enable booting also if the original license key is not available a new one will be needed.

 

hi there,

i do have ALL licence keys as they are on the towers themselves. Also i do have a keyboard, so it seems like i would be easier using my tele as a monitor and doing it that way.

See, i come here to Major Geeks and i leave with an answer that isnt stupid like some sites.

Thank you once again

Andy

I will keep coming back to view peoples replies. You take the time to answer, at least i could do is read and learn.

 

Having the monitor hooked up to see things. You might have a system re-install partition on it. That would give you a clean install from the partition.

Depending on the manufacture. How to do it. Are diffrent. Go to the manufactures web sight. Chose your model. See if they have instructions listed on F commands on boot up.