How often do you reformat?

[Anubis]

when ever it decides to DIE on me. which randomally just happens.

but usially every 6 months or so ill do a format and reinstall

 

[Ordo1999]

Originally posted by: illusion88
Only when I need to.
You see, I fix my problems through blood sweat and toil... not a simple format c:

same here

 

[CraigRT]

I used to format religiously.... now I just wait til there is a problem, or a big hardware upgrade or something... if no need, I don't bother.

 

[dayg]

I'm with TheEvil1. About every 6 months or so to keep my system in top shape not because I have to. Windows generally gets bogged down after a period of time especially if you do many installs and uninstalls.

 

[tcsenter]

Only when I need to. You see, I fix my problems through blood sweat and toil... not a simple format c:

Huh? Oh brother...

Translation: "I don't make backups of my data so a format is out of the question." lol!

 

[weeber]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Only when I need to. You see, I fix my problems through blood sweat and toil... not a simple format c:

Huh? Oh brother...

Translation: "I don't make backups of my data so a format is out of the question." lol!

Poor translation, atleast in my case. I try to do a complete backup every month, and backup my critical documents and emails once a week (I'm not always that good about doing it, but I try). Anyways, I never reformat. I've been through 3 systems (from a K6-2 to Athlon) and have only deleted the 'System Devices' section of Windows. I think I still have some Win95 components on here somewhere.

I still find my computer fast enough for what I need. It plays my games as well as to be expected, and it's stable, even overclocked.

To me, reformating is like curing the disease by killing the patient.

 

[yakko]

My Windows 98 machine has not been formatted in alost two years. Theother machines are all basically test machies so I screw them up all the time. My laptop has been formatted about 7 times since I bought it a little over three weeks ago. Of course it has had everything from XP Home to XP Pro and also Redhat 8.0 and SuSE 8.1 and now Windows Longhorn M4 build.

 

[compudog]

Usually twice a year. We'll see how long XP continues to run. With Win98 at least twice a year.

 

[Spac3d]

Maybe twice a year because of adding newer, faster harddrives to become my boot drive.

 

[Dufman]

1 time a year. in august. before i start classes again. i dont really ever NEED to format, but it gives me peice of mind.

unless i get a new mobo / HD / or PROC. then i format.

 

[Eli]

I haven't reformatted, defragged, or anything like that in well over 2 years.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I don't see a point in formatting more than 2 times per year per machine. I usually do it once per year, per machine during the upgrade time. Some of the changes to my OS don't go over well with upgrades, and practically require fresh installs. But that's progress for you.

 

[optoman]

About once every six months. Windows really does seem to get clogged up with random files. Also, my explorer has been acting up and the 6 months is about here.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Whenever "sh|t happens" on a regular basis. Eg - massive HD thrashing, weird application issues, major hardware change, or god forbid a BSOD.

- M4H

 

[Kanalua]

just reformatted, after a few months....so nice...love having a new fresh install every once in a while...












this was the oldest reformat thread I could access...

 

[MovingTarget]

About once every six months. Sometimes a fresh install helps your system run better by getting off all the useless crap and settings that gradually accumulate on my hdd and in my os.
---or---
Whenever I do a major hardware change. This isnt too often considering I'm broke like some others here in ATOT.

 

[mpitts]

Depends on the platform:

Linux machines - never
Mac running OS X - never
WinXP machine - every 3-4 months

 

[Nocturnal]

I used to format once a month but now I only format if I need to.

 

[brunswickite]

every 6- 12 months

 

[dighn]

when everything is screwy or when I change harddrive/hardware

 

[Chaotic42]

Usually whenever I buy a new drive. It's been about 13 months for Debian because I just copied everything over without reinstalling. Since I can't change anything without reinstalling Windows, it's only been about 3 weeks.

 

[JEDI]

another thread back from the dead

 

[Kanalua]

Yeah...I know...I hate when people post new threads when old ones of the same topic already exist

 

[tcsenter]

Here is the alleged "easy way" I use to reformat (the first 13 or so are in my typical order of installation, but after that I just wrote what came to mind):

1. Format C:

2. D:\WIN9X\SETUP.EXE

3. Install latest mobo/chipset drivers and restart

4. Install lastest DirectX and restart

DEFRAG

5. Install latest VGA drivers and restart

6. Install peripherals (USB, audio, LAN, modem) and latest drivers and restart

7. Install MSIE 5.5SP2 (my fav) and restart

8. Install several MSIE patches/updates, restarting after each

9. Install several more Win9x patches/updates, restarting after each

10. Install preferred version of Windows Media Player (7.1) and restart

11. Install WMP8 Codec pack

12. Install two WMP7.1 patches/updates

13. Install DIVX

DEFRAG

14. Install Netzero and configure Dial-up

15. Configure Outlook Express 5.5 for mail account

16. Download the rest of Netzero install and restart

17. Install Winzip

18. Install Winamp

19. Install NERO Burning ROM and restart

20. Install Printer and driver and restart

21. Install Scanner and driver and restart

22. Install Microsoft Office 2000 Standard and restart

23. Install SR-1 for Office 2000 and restart

24. Install SP-3 for Office 2000 and restart (includes SP2)

DEFRAG

25. Install CacheMan and restart

26. Install GETRIGHT

27. Install Quicken 2002 Deluxe and restart

28. Install Updates for Quicken

29. Install Norton Antivirus 2002 and restart

30. LiveUpdate Norton Antivirus 2002 (currently about 14MB on 28.8 dial-up)

31. Install Digital Camera drivers

32. Install Paint Shop Pro

33. Install Paint Shop Pro updates

34. Install Ulead PhotoImpact

35. Install Ulead PhotoImpact updates

DEFRAG

36. Install me fav Hoyle Game Pack

37. Install me fav Hoyle Game Pack update

38. Install UltraEdit

39. Install Yahoo! Messenger (sometimes)

40. Install latest Shockwave and/or Flash Players

41. Install Stomp Backup MyPC

42. Install a few other apps/utilities I know I'm missing

Configure all Windows and application settings/preferences to taste, which I usually do as I go after each app is installed, import my email and address book back into Outlook Express, restore contents of My Documents folder and Favorite places.

Total time to complete this "easy way" = about 10 hours (however you want to divide it up: three hours per day = three days, or spend an entire Saturday) not including any time it requires to download new drivers or updates on 28.8 dialup in advance of formatting (unless noted).

What some people have rationalized as the 'technically superior way' of remedying a problem is in fact just another way of saying "I'm too lazy to do all of that unless it is absolutely necessary for me to. It requires too much time and effort. In truth, I would actually prefer to have a 'fresh' system like that, but man that's just too much damned work so I'll pass, thanks."