From: V@nguard.LH   
      
   Auric wrote:   
      
   > pyotr filipivich wrote:   
   >   
   >> Am I stuck with complete reinstall as my only option (aside from   
   >> pulling the drive, or just stripping this one for parts?)   
   >   
   > I'd do a clean install. You have no idea what the previous owner was doing   
   > with it. For all you know, it's loaded with viruses and other malware.   
      
   And kiddie porn and perhaps other illegal stuff.  It doesn't have to be   
   in the file system.  It could be content left behind when the clusters   
   were deallocated for a deleted file; i.e., it's in the partition's free   
   space and could be recovered from there (and who know what some judge   
   will deem as you having knowledge or prior possession).   
      
   Wipe the disk to eliminate any remnant "bad" content, including the MBR   
   or UEFI master code area to eliminate a rootkit.  Active@'s Killdisk   
   should work.  Then do a fresh install of the OS and apps (and make sure   
   you have the product keys).  If the neighbor did not give you the   
   install CD and license for Windows XP as well as for all the apps on   
   that computer with their install media and keys then it unlikely that   
   the neighbor intended to transfer ownership to you.  He may come back   
   and demand return of his property or its monetary equivalent if you've   
   modified it.   
      
   If it's an OEM license of Windows XP then, yes, you own the license for   
   it.  If it was a retail license then you do NOT have permission to use   
   it as your neighbor still owns the license.  It sounds like the neighbor   
   abandoned his hardware to you; however, you never mentioned that your   
   neighbor handed over the installation media, COA sticker, and granted   
   you next ownership of the OS license, or the licenses to any of the   
   software that was left on his abandoned computer.   
      
   The neighbor moved away and left behind his computer.  That doesn't   
   grant you possession of his property.  I park my car every day at work   
   but that doesn't mean I grant someone, anyone, permission to take it.   
   Have you actually called your neighbor to find out if he grants you   
   ownership of his property?  If not, and if he is not willing to pay for   
   its shipping to return it to him, and if you don't feel like charging   
   him for storage cost, and if he isn't willing to transfer ALL ownership   
   to you (hardware, OS licenses, app licenses) then tell him you will   
   trash his computer after a month.  I'd suggest recording the   
   conversation or retaining the e-mail in case you end up in court after   
   disposing of his abandoned property.  You never stated as perhaps you   
   don't really know whether or not the neighbor intended to abandon his   
   property and also intended that you acquire its ownership versus some   
   other disposal intended by the prior owner.   
      
   http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/abandoned-personal-property.html   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)