Formating / Reinstalling Frequency

[gizbug]

How often do you format/reinstall your OS?
With my WindowsXP, I seem to have a bad habit of doing it at least once a month. Need to break that habit, because it is a constant headache.
Just curious on how often users format and reinstall their OS's.

 

[Thor86]

Never, and you should read up on drive imaging products like Drive Image or Ghost. These are worth their price tag for the time you save.

 

[AndyHui]

Every six months, in line with my hardware upgrades.

 

[TomBilliodeaux]

You sound like my brother n law. He thinks it is a good clearing and makes everything "fresh" again.
Also threatens his kids (as a discipline tool)....."If you don't....., I'll format your computer!!!!"
I guess it is a sign of the times.
I introduced him to DImage but I thing that only makes it easier for him to justify a "reformat".

 

[Tiger]

Only when I have to. Running W2K Pro and Gentoo Linux I don't "have" to nearly as often as I use to running 9x.
I hate disk swapping.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

Running W2K Pro and Gentoo Linux I don't "have" to nearly as often as I use to running 9x.
I hate disk swapping.

Indeed, the joys of 2k/XP...

I tend to do a fresh re-install rather than ghosting, mainly because the hardware in my PC changes quite frequently and it's a bad idea to use an image created on different hardware...
Also, it gives me the opportunity to update all my drivers/programs.

 

[Nothinman]

I wait until a hardware upgrade (or software upgrade in the Windows case) renders the OS unusable. This means my current Linux installation is going on 4 years and my Windows installation just over a year.

 

[sxr7171]

Every 6 months or so some sort of crap happens that I have to reinstall.