I wish to sell my laptop, and would like to erase sensitive files without having to do a complete disk erase and operating system reload. Its a Compaq Presario R3000 running Windows XP Home edition

First, uninstall all of the software that you or other Users installed, including browsers.Second, create a new User Account with Administrator Permissions.Third, remove all of other User Accounts that were setup except for the Guest account.Then delete all of the User Accounts folders that have been removed by showing hidden files, folders, and system drives and, using Windows Explorer, navigate to Documents and Settings, deleting all User account folders and subfolders of the removed User Accounts, if they still are present.If you really want to ensure there's no lingering User Data, do a search in the registry with the removed User Accounts names and delete any entries related to them. You should back up the registry or any registry keys that you are going to delete just in case anything untoward results from doing that. MowGreenWindows Expert IT Pro - Consumer Security*-343-* FDNYNEVER FORGOTTEN