Will Factory Restoring my computer give me a clean slate?

[adventureman89]

I was reading the Amazon Stealth Book, and it says to do a Reinstall of my Windows... Is it the same to factory restore my computer?

I know about the other steps like changing MAC address, IP address, ect..

Just worried about this.. Thank you.

[Kelly441]

Yes if you are doing a destructive restore. A non destructive restore will keep your files and settings.

[adventureman89]

A destructive restore? What do you mean?

[Kelly441]

It means that the drive is formatted and any personal information is gone. It will look like it did when you first bought it and booted it up. What brand is it?

[adventureman89]

It is a gateway. Okay sounds good. I have the factory restore disk. Its an old computer that I don't use, so I'll run the factory system restore on it.

[Kelly441]

If it asked make sure to format the hard drive. An older Gateway should do that with the restore disks.

[adventureman89]

Thank you.. Now I need to figure out how to change my MAC address... I looked at the instructions on the Amazon Stealth but didn't quite get it..

[adventureman89]

Does this work for changing a MAC address?

Change Windows Vista MAC address - YouTube

Change Windows Vista MAC address - YouTube

it's a short video

[barrycruan]

1. You can just use a different user account instead of restoring your computer
2. Amazon don't track mac addresses

[Kelly441]

Well I didn't know You could do it right through the device manager. It looks like you can. I would feel better changing out the Nic crd and disabling the inboard. Also, remember depending on your setup. Yu may have to change your Mac on your router.

[Kelly441]

If you use VMware it will automatically creat Mac addresses. That's what I use.

[adventureman89]

Originally Posted by barrycruan

1. You can just use a different user account instead of restoring your computer
2. Amazon don't track mac addresses

That is not what the Amazon Stealth Book says.. Has that changed?

[adventureman89]

Originally Posted by Kelly441

If you use VMware it will automatically creat Mac addresses. That's what I use.

The thing about VMWare is, do I need to buy a whole new operating system? Wouldn't that get quite pricey?

[Kelly441]

Originally Posted by adventureman89

The thing about VMWare is, do I need to buy a whole new operating system? Wouldn't that get quite pricey?

No, there are free images of OSes you can download from the net. Just let me know if you need them.

As for the Mac, I hear arguments both ways, but why take a chance

[adventureman89]

Originally Posted by Kelly441

No, there are free images of OSes you can download from the net. Just let me know if you need them.

As for the Mac, I hear arguments both ways, but why take a chance

It'd be great if you can show me where to get them. Thank you.

[barrycruan]

Originally Posted by adventureman89

That is not what the Amazon Stealth Book says.. Has that changed?

I know it says it in the Stealth Book but this is really an added precaution. Mac addresses can be read in some very rare circumstances but to cut a long story short not by amazon. There are plenty of people here who run multiple accounts off of one computer and one router. Just make sure the ip is different and that you use a different user log in for each account.

That's how I and many others do it.