I hate dling programs if I don't have to... If you have windows 7, you can go:
right click the images
properties
Details
Remove properties and personal information...
Also you can always use paint...
Open up the image in paint
Select all/select a cropped section
Copy
Open up a BRAND NEW WINDOW in paint
paste
Save
Hammerhead, have you double checked that works? If I understand you right, the copy is still going to have the metadata included, if you didn't do something specific to remove it.