Cleaning up my sytem? Evil FORMAT!

[ICEVaPa]

Hey guys...

I have come to the stage where i have not formated my computer for about a year, and have installed and uninstalled mountins of junk.

I was wonering if any of you just make your coumpuer go through some extreme cleaning, and if you know if it is worth trying.

So, what applications do you use to clean your computer (Like a SUPER clean!)

Ie registery cleaner, HD cleaner, and anything else you would recommend!

Thanks alot.

ICE

 

[VirtualLarry]

Is there any problem with your computer currently? Why the pressing need to re-format?

 

[Jeff7181]

Windows XP is real good about keeping itself in shape. The only times I've reformatted is when a family member downloaded spyware that would have taken more time to remove all the bits and pieces than it would to reformat... and when I was having driver problems with my old 9800 Pro and formatted as a last effort to resolve the problems.

Aside from that, I haven't reformatted in over a year. Three people use this computer... I've done MAJOR upgrades... switched from the 9800 Pro to a 6800GT without formatting... switched from an Athlon XP to an Athlon-64 without formatting. And it's still very snappy. I don't do any registry cleaning... just make sure I clean up folders left over from programs I uninstall and defragment once in a while.

So yeah... I'll go along with Larry and say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 

[ICEVaPa]

I suppose it is also a mental thing, really like knowing my computer is running nicly and efficiantly...

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Windows XP is real good about keeping itself in shape. The only times I've reformatted is when a family member downloaded spyware that would have taken more time to remove all the bits and pieces than it would to reformat... and when I was having driver problems with my old 9800 Pro and formatted as a last effort to resolve the problems.

Aside from that, I haven't reformatted in over a year. Three people use this computer... I've done MAJOR upgrades... switched from the 9800 Pro to a 6800GT without formatting... switched from an Athlon XP to an Athlon-64 without formatting. And it's still very snappy. I don't do any registry cleaning... just make sure I clean up folders left over from programs I uninstall and defragment once in a while.

So yeah... I'll go along with Larry and say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

how the hell did you go from an athlon xp to an athlon 64 without reinstalling windows? that would definitely require a motherboard change, which always requires a reinstallation of windows.. please explain.

 

[TallBill]

Reformatting is fun. I do it often even when my system is running fine.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Windows XP is real good about keeping itself in shape. The only times I've reformatted is when a family member downloaded spyware that would have taken more time to remove all the bits and pieces than it would to reformat... and when I was having driver problems with my old 9800 Pro and formatted as a last effort to resolve the problems.

Aside from that, I haven't reformatted in over a year. Three people use this computer... I've done MAJOR upgrades... switched from the 9800 Pro to a 6800GT without formatting... switched from an Athlon XP to an Athlon-64 without formatting. And it's still very snappy. I don't do any registry cleaning... just make sure I clean up folders left over from programs I uninstall and defragment once in a while.

So yeah... I'll go along with Larry and say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

how the hell did you go from an athlon xp to an athlon 64 without reinstalling windows? that would definitely require a motherboard change, which always requires a reinstallation of windows.. please explain.

i have made a MB change w/o reformatting . . . . worked fine although i do not recommend it.

i don't bother with cleaners . . . . just reformat when you feel performance is not up to par . . . . once every year or so.

 

[dunkster]

Maintenance, cleanup and configuration utilities:
- Ace Utilities (Safest)
- RegSeeker (Ace doesn't have a registry-search function)
- Crap Cleaner (Extensive deep-cleaning)

On-demand scanners:
- Spybot
- AdAware
- CWShredder
- Stinger

Virus and Trojan protection:
- Micro Trend IS2005 (Software firewall + AV)
- TrojanHunter Guard (resident real-time Trojan protection)

Resident anti-spyware protection (I've been alternating these):
- MS AntiSpyware Beta
- Spy Sweeper
- Spyware Doctor

System privacy and security immunization:
- SpywareBlaster
- IESPYAD

My IE browser is also hardened with custom security and privacy settings.

Defragger:
- Raxco PerfectDisk

Weekly imaging of OS and DATA partitions (just in case):
- Terabyte 'Image for Windows' and 'Image for DOS'

Periodic clean Windows installation is easy to do, but reconfiguring the system for all preferred settings, customizing processes configurations, etc. takes a long time - and I hate losing Favorites, saved e-mail, critical data, etc.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Windows XP is real good about keeping itself in shape. The only times I've reformatted is when a family member downloaded spyware that would have taken more time to remove all the bits and pieces than it would to reformat... and when I was having driver problems with my old 9800 Pro and formatted as a last effort to resolve the problems.

Aside from that, I haven't reformatted in over a year. Three people use this computer... I've done MAJOR upgrades... switched from the 9800 Pro to a 6800GT without formatting... switched from an Athlon XP to an Athlon-64 without formatting. And it's still very snappy. I don't do any registry cleaning... just make sure I clean up folders left over from programs I uninstall and defragment once in a while.

So yeah... I'll go along with Larry and say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

how the hell did you go from an athlon xp to an athlon 64 without reinstalling windows? that would definitely require a motherboard change, which always requires a reinstallation of windows.. please explain.

I said I didn't reformat... not that I didn't reinstall. I just installed over top of the previous install, kept all my programs and settings and whatnot in tact and had zero problems.

 

[BW86]

I use ace utilities to clean junk out of my system.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Windows XP is real good about keeping itself in shape. The only times I've reformatted is when a family member downloaded spyware that would have taken more time to remove all the bits and pieces than it would to reformat... and when I was having driver problems with my old 9800 Pro and formatted as a last effort to resolve the problems.

Aside from that, I haven't reformatted in over a year. Three people use this computer... I've done MAJOR upgrades... switched from the 9800 Pro to a 6800GT without formatting... switched from an Athlon XP to an Athlon-64 without formatting. And it's still very snappy. I don't do any registry cleaning... just make sure I clean up folders left over from programs I uninstall and defragment once in a while.

So yeah... I'll go along with Larry and say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

how the hell did you go from an athlon xp to an athlon 64 without reinstalling windows? that would definitely require a motherboard change, which always requires a reinstallation of windows.. please explain.

i have made a MB change w/o reformatting . . . . worked fine although i do not recommend it.

i don't bother with cleaners . . . . just reformat when you feel performance is not up to par . . . . once every year or so.

AFAIK, the only time that would work is if the new mobo had the same chipset as the previous one. but yes, in that case i stand corrected...

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Windows XP is real good about keeping itself in shape. The only times I've reformatted is when a family member downloaded spyware that would have taken more time to remove all the bits and pieces than it would to reformat... and when I was having driver problems with my old 9800 Pro and formatted as a last effort to resolve the problems.

Aside from that, I haven't reformatted in over a year. Three people use this computer... I've done MAJOR upgrades... switched from the 9800 Pro to a 6800GT without formatting... switched from an Athlon XP to an Athlon-64 without formatting. And it's still very snappy. I don't do any registry cleaning... just make sure I clean up folders left over from programs I uninstall and defragment once in a while.

So yeah... I'll go along with Larry and say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

how the hell did you go from an athlon xp to an athlon 64 without reinstalling windows? that would definitely require a motherboard change, which always requires a reinstallation of windows.. please explain.

i have made a MB change w/o reformatting . . . . worked fine although i do not recommend it.

i don't bother with cleaners . . . . just reformat when you feel performance is not up to par . . . . once every year or so.

AFAIK, the only time that would work is if the new mobo had the same chipset as the previous one. but yes, in that case i stand corrected...

that is the usual case where a reformat is unnecessary . . . .

actually not in this case, it was a Soyo TISU MB (i think intel) for a Tualatin P3 to something pretty different (probably via) . . . . and quite by accident too . . . i was planning a reformat but was too slow and it started to set up Win2K . . . . to my utter shock, it recognized all the new HW, installed it and proceed to run ok for the next couple of months or so 'till my current major upgrade . . . when i posted this in GH, i found my experience was not (totally) unique . . .

perrformance was probably affected although it was stable enough for everyday usage

 

[Jeff7181]

As long as you reinstall over the top of the old one you should be good to go cause it'll detect all the hardware and install all the drivers it needs and just get rid of the ones it doesn't. I went from an nForce2 to and nForce3 chipset... so I don't think different chipsets have anything to do with it.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
As long as you reinstall over the top of the old one you should be good to go cause it'll detect all the hardware and install all the drivers it needs and just get rid of the ones it doesn't. I went from an nForce2 to and nForce3 chipset... so I don't think different chipsets have anything to do with it.

i had meant a reinstall in the first place. apparently i wasn't paying enough attention to your post.