How often do you format the HD?

wchou

Banned
Dec 1, 2004
1,137
0
0
I have a hd that haven't been formatted for years and it has so much errors on it that everytime I try to access it would freeze my computer.
So I would change Lan cable, change ram, update Networking drivers and changing back and forth.
Was basically pulling my hairs out as I was puzzled for awhile until it was backed up using some other file viewer other then explorer like nero, was able to backup everything then wipe the HD clean as dust.
Works great ever since, so if you have computer lagging so bad this is the culprit.
I recommend formatting at least once a month :)
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,204
45
91
It was going on a year for this last time I did it (2 weeks ago)

My general goal is twice a year.
 

saltedeggman

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2001
3,775
0
0
i usually do it when my pc feel sluggish (due to install/uninstall programs, and thing like that)
 

imported_rod

Golden Member
Apr 13, 2005
1,788
0
0
Only when i do serious upgrades (CPU, MoBo, Graphics) or before installing a new OS (still waiting wor windows XP 64-bit edition).

Otherwise, i keep my system de-fragged and clean with AVG anti-virus, Spybot and AdAware.

RoD
 

airfoil

Golden Member
Jan 17, 2001
1,643
0
0
On an average, it works out to a once a year reinstallation of the OS, which results in a format.
 

Mesix

Senior member
Apr 20, 2005
275
0
0
Ubuntu took a nose dive when I was testing different windows managers (Enlightenment at the time) and, long story short, I formatted then.

I usually format every couple months whenever I want to try a new distro.
 

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Originally posted by: wchou
I have a hd that haven't been formatted for years and it has so much errors on it that everytime I try to access it would freeze my computer.
So I would change Lan cable, change ram, update Networking drivers and changing back and forth.
Was basically pulling my hairs out as I was puzzled for awhile until it was backed up using some other file viewer other then explorer like nero, was able to backup everything then wipe the HD clean as dust.
Works great ever since, so if you have computer lagging so bad this is the culprit.
I recommend formatting at least once a month :)
You're doing something SERIOUSLY wrong if you format every month. My PC runs great and I only have a lil 'ol AXP 2600+ mobile running at 2.2GHz and a WD 80GB drive that gets to 99.9% full. I've been on this Windows XP install for like 2yrs+ I think. And let me tell you, I beat that machine down like an animal!
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
19
81
My main system's operating system installation date is October 21, 2003. I'm figuring on possibly reinstalling Windows sometime this year - depending on how the SP2 update goes, whenever I decide to risk doing that.

As for other hard drives lately, they've been getting formatted a lot, mainly because I just sold a bunch, and formatting was part of the cleaning and diagnostics. :)
 

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
174
106
My gaming rig gets it anywhere from 3-8 months. It get OC'd, tested etc often, has a crap load of game demo's installed/uninstalled and drivers changed.

The office rigs go a couple years b4 reformating etc.

Fern
 

kjacobs

Senior member
Feb 10, 2001
437
0
0
Usually once a year I reinstall windows 2000. But I don't format the drive...I buy a new hard drive and keep the old one as a backup or in case the new install does not work.
 

ty1er

Senior member
May 14, 2004
807
0
0
I only Format my main partition when i do a motherboard upgrade. Other then that i use Ghost if i run into any major OS problems.

 

stevem326

Senior member
Apr 5, 2005
337
0
0
I reformat my entire drive using a utility called WipeDrive and reinstall the OS about every 9 months or so. WipeDrive takes 11 hours to wipe my 120GB HD...hehe :)

It's probably overkill but I've been using this method with all of my PC's and they run flawlessly, so I'm sticking with it.
 

theMan

Diamond Member
Mar 17, 2005
4,386
0
0
sure, that nice fresh feeling is nice, but i think its a waste of time. i just defrag every week (usually more often). i think it is more important to clean the inside of my case. especially HSF, and fan intake. i only format when i install windows, which is incredibly rare.
 

stevem326

Senior member
Apr 5, 2005
337
0
0
Originally posted by: theman
sure, that nice fresh feeling is nice, but i think its a waste of time. i just defrag every week (usually more often). i think it is more important to clean the inside of my case. especially HSF, and fan intake. i only format when i install windows, which is incredibly rare.

Oh, I do that too. I even use a special defragmenting tool called Disk Keeper and tend to defrag every 2-3 days. Plus running Check Disk a few times a month is a good idea.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,679
6,251
126
Once, when I first set it up on my system. If it gets fubared from a Mobo change or whatnot(that hasn't happened to me in 5ish years) I'll do it again because I have no choice. I avoid OS re-installs and drive formats like the plague. I have better things to do than dicking around with all that crap. I got tired of that routine in the pre-Win 98SE days and was a big reason why I hated Win95/98.
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
27,370
239
106
The need to reformat a hard drive should not be calendar or time driven - but event drive. You missed the best answer in your poll:

"When necessary."