temple_treefrog Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 (edited) I've had the same Windows installation for around two years and in that time I've installed SP1 and SP2, installed new hardware (including a new processor and mainboard) and I think it's time to reformat. The only problem is it will take a *very* long time to install all of my software, drivers, service packs, etc. and finding all of my old CD's and the hassle of backing everything up safely. My computer runs smooth, boots up in less than 20 seconds, doesn't have any virus's or spyware but I get more software errors than I use to. The last time I formatted was just before I signed up to Neowin. Do you think its time for a fresh format? and how often do you guys format your systens? :ninja: :doctor: Edited May 7, 2005 by kizzaaa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exien Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 When I used to use windows I'd format every 2-3 months. I think you should change your poll. I know people that format every week, or every month. Wait, I still know people that use windows and format every month... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premgenius Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 One a year a format is due this month also have to format my brothers pcs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoSigma Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Whenever things get really messed up. Last time I did a format was 6 months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makeshift Hammer Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Once i've tweaked it into submission and have to start again (whilst learning from my mistakes :p ) So it's went from every few months to about twice a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red. Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 i don't format too often maybe around 1-2 years mainly because i don't like installing all of my programs and games again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lan88 Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 i havent found the need to format since i bought my new rig last december :D this was a major improvement to my old rig... i remembered formatting it 3x in a row cuz i couldnt figure out what was screwing it up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insanekiwi Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 i barely format. only if there's a major hardware change. i just acronis true image and just create backups by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivand Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 when I screw something up, havent done it in like a year already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Symal Taneous Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 about once a month, just for the windows partition, and every 6 months for a full system format, I do a DVD backup of everything I want to keep, then I load partition magic, do a secure erase on all the partitions, redo the partitions and reinstall windows and all my programs/games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Game2 Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 I formatted last week and last night I was installing SP2, but then the installation started to "not respond", then I tried closing it, logging off, none of that would work, so I manually turned off my PC, and rebooted it. Then I managed to format my computer, then I went to Neowin.net, tried logging in, but I've forgotten my password, and I still haven't recieved my confirmation email since yesterday. Thus, using Game2 instead of Game. :( Sucks to be me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoXY Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 ahh....haven't formated since...I don't know...when I first got my computer which was back in....'01 I think?...was always too lazy to do so, too much work..maybe this summer.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Zollo Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Bi-annually, its an odd little ritual I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaffra Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 only if its really necessary. i have a ghost image somewhere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trashpickinman Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Last time I formatted and reinstalled Windows was 3/31/2004, 5:30:23 PM. When I get enough money for a DVD burner and a new video card I'll do a slipstreamed SP2 install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.calibre Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Never. I've got too much stuff (300gb+ of random videos, films etc)... It'd be a bit tricky to back it all up and format. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_daemon Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Since I switched completely to Linux -- never. I don't think I'll ever need to either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin-uk Veteran Posted May 7, 2005 Veteran Share Posted May 7, 2005 about once a year.. did it last week :) i dont have much to backup as i keep all my stuff on a seperate drive so i usually only have to backup things like my favorites (which i always forget :pinch: ) and a few of my dads documents... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarm Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 I'm quite shocked at the frequency of some of you guys - what the hell do you do to your OS to cause such problems? On an average PC, once every 2 years at the most - on a programmers PC maybe once every 6 months to keep maximum performance if you've installed a lot of crap in that time. But using software to defrag the HD, defrag the Regsitry, clean the registry and keep good housekeeping, a re-format just isn't really needed most the time. I've only recently re-installed since I had a slipstream XP-SP2 CD which would be better than SP1+updates+SP2, that for me is the main reason for a re-format. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christracy Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 i do it when i encounter odd behaviour in the OS or and sometimes when i get or change hardware. i formatted about 2 weeks ago after 6 months and will probably format again when i get my new HD and i repartition all the drives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rahul Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 3 months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nexx295 Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Last time was last year, in october. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IK47 Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 every afternoon at 4:00pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sourc3 Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 When I get a new HD to store the new movies : ) Or a CPU upgrade, other than that, it's too much work to re-configure to whole system.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudy Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 every 2 weeks but since i got my mac i dont use my pc anymore so its been a while, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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