Looking for some help to remove evidence of unofficial software from a company laptop.

My works laptop installation of windows is corrupted. It won’t get past an error message just at the start of booting.

Now, I have managed to boot from a Linux disc and have got all my files and stuff off, all is good there.

The problem I have is that we are given admin rights to allow us to install occasional items of specialist software, which we can buy a one off licence and install. However, I have also installed a couple of programs that would not look good if they are noticed by the IT bods. a copy of uTorrent doesn’t look good!

Is there anyway of removing things from the windows directories that will remove any evidence of the previous installations using Linux or should I just wipe the whole drive?

Any suggestions?

If you have a boot disc just delete the partitions. I’m sure your IT department are too busy and just reinstall than to go looking for your porn collection.

A bump for the Sunday afternoon people.

go looking for your porn collection.

Did you read the first post? I can boot from a Linux disc and remove any files I want.

What I want to do is remove evidence of software I shouldn’t have installed with out just deleting folders and leaving glaring obvious remains.

Your probably right though, I bet they are not really interested and will just reinstall, just being a bit paranoid.

Your problem will be old Registry keys, shortcuts etc. These are spread around within the OS folders and files so hard to get to without access to the Windows OS itself.

Why not post up the error message you get at the start. It is possible that someone will know how to do a restore from there?

Effectorize it.

I’m sure your IT department are will too busy and just reinstall than to go looking for your porn collection.

Northwind – You recognize the log in?

Is there anyway of removing things from the windows directories that will remove any evidence of the previous installations using Linux

Reliably? No. If you’re that concerned, DBAN it.

Why not post up the error message you get at the start. It is possible that someone will know how to do a restore from there?

This, and

I bet they are not really interested and will just reinstall,

this. I can’t speak for your IT department specifically, but I’d expect that they’ll just re-image it.

TBH, if they were concerned about the software you were running then a) you wouldn’t have local admin access and b) they’d be monitoring / auditing it remotely anyway. You’d need to be spectacularly stupid to want to individually check everyone’s PCs manually (which isn’t to say you can totally rule it out…)

gobuchul – Member

Northwind – You recognize the log in?

“That’s a weird name, how did you end up calling yourself that” 😉