removing information from previous owner

I have a desk top computer running on Windows 2000 Professional. It was given to me from a small company that had to close their doors. Before this I was using windows 98 on a slow laptop.

How can I remove thei files and/or free up space on the harddrive. I got a message yesterday saying there was not enough space on the hard disc. I was trying to download a file.

HELP, Thanks

 

erase all data

Hi - an interesting project, taking ownership of a used computer - in my opinion is always best to completely erase the previous owner data, parasites, internet related histories, system file errors, config errors, from the disk drive and reinstall Windows using a full disk eraser tool (zero out)
You can do this using the hard disk drive vendor maintenance tool supplied free for end-user use via the disk vendor support site
These tools can also test the disk and repair bad sectors etc
however
You will need the means to reinstall Windows with support - meaning most likely - for a win2000 era system - a distributed or supported recovery media

The company should have supplied the as distributed recovery media as this forms part of the Windows license
but if not for pre-xp era Windows often same-vendor unused recovery media can be bought via online auctions
(XP/VISTA replacement media are best sourced directly from the computer vendor - usually now at modest cost - as these os versions are still supported)
The alternative is purchasing a Fully Packaged Product (standalone, boxed retail) XP pro Windows (not oem)
(XP upgrade will not clean install because you need the native os disk)

 

yes - particularly for recently purchased used drives, about 1 out of 5 have had serious viruses in my experience - i even disconnnect all other hard disk and optical drives so that they do not get corrupted and have a usb a-drive ready in case the onboard a-drive dies
(i still use them because you can positively mechanically lock the tool diskette and so stop unwanted writes and the drives are cheap to replace)

 

With price of new drives today, The only reason to purchase a used drive is if you can buy it for between 25-40% of comparable new drives, and even then be careful of the contents.

 

removing information/going from windows 2000 to XP

After doing more research I came upon a website called "brothersoft.com Not sure if I am reading it correctly but it seems I can download windows XP for free. Is this too good to be true????? If the anwser is NO I will switch to the XP thread

 

I entered some specs not sure where to get the remaining specs

 

Yes Arie, but Tigerbright spoke of used drives...........

 

I found an advanced defrag download on microsoft. My computer is running much better now.
Thank you
Jill

 

wonderful - but the other suggestions are valid and most certainly useful
for your newly acquired used computer
btw .. what MS defragmenter ?
PS .. I suggest register yourself with the computer vendor as the current legal owner (if possible, is just good practise and helpful if seeking support - although for a win2000 era system...)
Anyhow you can upgrade the win2000 os to sp4 (?) via the MS Windows upgrade or support site
and at least install the latest win2000 support windows installer program
(need at least service pack 3)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...FC-5F56-4A38-B838-DE776FD4138C&displaylang=en

service pack 4
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...F1-749F-49F4-8010-297BD6CA33A0&displaylang=en

or
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...c6-2a5a-4399-ad3d-4a97a25f41d9&displaylang=en