The registry does not contain any files, per se, but information about your system mostly (hardware, software, etc) http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...registry&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title Encrypt your private files, use one of the programs mentioned previously to "scrub" your computer and if you're seriously worried take the hard drive out when you sell it, the magnetic image of files can be retrieved for a long time. However, ppl at the computer store will not be able to get that. If you've emptied the recycling bin and scrubbed the drive you should be fine, imo. TNG