POLL: Do you format right away?

[rh71]

I'd like to keep what I paid for... unless it's so bogged down with extra stuff like RealPlayer, etc.

 

[Chaotic42]

The last time I bought a computer was in 1995. I would if I bought a new one though.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I didn't bother when I got my powerbook.

 

[Mojoed]

I always, always format.

 

[shilala]

desktop-format, laptop-workaround

 

[OMGoddess]

I use it to surf for p0rn until it's full of crap then format and use it normally. Brutal cycle. Everytime I want to surf for p0rn now I have to get a new PC.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I only buy laptops/premade computers if they have nothing installed.

Of course I've only ever purchased a premade computer once (a dell server, purchased with no OS)
And a few laptops (all used, an old mac with no OS, an 450mhz PIII, and an old 166mhz ... all with no OS)).

 

[Cerb]

If it is a desktop, it will be a OEM unformatted drive.
If it is a laptop, chances are it will come with Windows of some kind. For most laptop uses, Knoppix install > Windows.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I haven't had a computer that came with an os since I was 11... It came with 3.1 and it didn't have a lot of crap on it.

 

[jagec]

ALWAYS format, it's much, much faster to reinstall the OS yourself. Especially with laptops...laptops are slow enough to begin with.

It's useful to have an OEM WinXP CD, though, so you can use the serial number that comes with the computer.

 

[MazerRackham]

Funny this thread is up today, since I picked up my Inspiron 700m last night, and I reformatted it today to get everything nice and clean 🙂

I love this thing! Keys are just a bit small, but that's what you get with a subcompact notebook!

 

[desteffy]

Originally posted by: MazerRackham
Funny this thread is up today, since I picked up my Inspiron 700m last night, and I reformatted it today to get everything nice and clean 🙂

I love this thing! Keys are just a bit small, but that's what you get with a subcompact notebook!

Hehe why do you think I asked.

My dell box is sitting in the corner and I was thinking of what to do.

When i booted it up to find about 12 things in the system tray my decision was made...

 

[MazerRackham]

Originally posted by: desteffy

Originally posted by: MazerRackham
Funny this thread is up today, since I picked up my Inspiron 700m last night, and I reformatted it today to get everything nice and clean 🙂

I love this thing! Keys are just a bit small, but that's what you get with a subcompact notebook!

Hehe why do you think I asked.

My dell box is sitting in the corner and I was thinking of what to do.

When i booted it up to find about 12 things in the system tray my decision was made...

Ah, yeah you gotta do it then. You got a 700m as well? Just keep the Dell driver CD handy after the install because pretty much everything was unrecognized in Device Manager.

After I finished up everything the ONLY critical update from windowsupdate was the latest patch for IE. Getting the WinXP install CD with SP2 already on it was nice...

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: mpitts
Format.

 

[Kelemvor]

Depends what comes on it and ho wmuch crap I'd have to remove.