insurektion Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 got my 36gb raptor and 200gb backup so I usually do one once every 1-3 months. Keep all my data on the 200 gb. Might get a mac if I can sell this guy for a decent price and keep the 200 gb and toss it in an external enclosure. edit: For those with only 1 drive I highly recommend partitioning (at least 15gb for windows and apps) and store your stufff and drivers on the second partition I have all my CD Images and stuff on my 2nd drive but used to partition It eases formatting by 100x I think Im gonna make an image to increase ease to 100% - time it takes Can anyone link me to good software to create an auto installing DVD image of my 1st drive. I think I wanna make one with the basics (Office, Firefox, etc etc) Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TmasterT Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 whenever i feel like it. maybe it wll be a bit more than 6 months, maybe ill do it like 2x within 6 months or somehint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandMaster Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 whenever it breaks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwjw1 Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 only formatted once...after the intial install...with the known programs i always use...i clone the partition or drive with 'Ghost' or "True Image Server"....saves the hassle of the installation process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzachattack2 Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 About every 6 months to a year, or unless I really screw something up. But it really isn't that hard since I just make an image of a fresh install with all my usual programs and utilities that I need installed, and all my settings correct, then just copy that image onto the formatted drive and I'm set. I keep all my documents and files on a seperate drive by the way, I only use that drive for the OS and programs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyflakes Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 I usually do it when I feel like it, or if something messes up, or my computer is being weird. I don't really have a set time to do it. I don't have alot of programs on my computer so it's not really a hassle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toastyone Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 Only when I do a fresh install which is only when I get either a new hard drive or motherboard. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotwire Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 because of extremem gaming and there are things in window which u can't really clean up so i do my format once a year.... for linux, i do it once a lifetime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGeorge Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 Alot when I first got into PCs. I think I was wiping somewhere in the relm of twice every couple of months back then. Now it more like once a year, if I'm tinkering around and experimenting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyehac Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 I only reformat either when something screwed up my computer, or I've backed up everything and I have time to reinstall everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkblackcrow Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 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. 585886493[/snapback] Same here. I format regular as clockwork. I always back up and always use PM. Programs, Games, Patches, Drivers, Updates... It takes a while, but it basically gets done on a night where I have nothing interesting to do or feel ill or something. I have done it so many times that I know the keys off by heart and have moved all the "latest" (kinda) drivers to a single DVD etc, so it doesn't take too long. Oddly enough :rofl: MS takes the longest to update even though it's always kept fairly clean :rofl: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YBG Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 I format my Windows drive when I get bored sometimes, usually I'll format like maybe four times a year, unless it is just in ruins. My drive with my videos and stuff hardly gets a format, maybe once a year if that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exotoxic Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 when I screw something up 585886479[/snapback] yep same here... and its not often i do :happy: :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vice Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 Twice a year, but only my actual Windows install gets formatted applications/games and Media (videos music pictures) are all on a separate drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ventrox Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 i format when it's needed... when things get really bad on my computer, hahahaha so... it depends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercuryx013 Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 I try to reformat as little as possible, which usually ends up being once per year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theyarecomingforyou Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 I just formated last night, but I'm hoping that the Norton Ghost image I made will make it unnecessary to completely format in future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miniM3 Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 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... 585886431[/snapback] my sentiments exactly Some times it's my fault. Sometime's it's a BSOD just a reminder that xp is based on dos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadian397 Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 Last time i formatted this computer was November 2004 and that was cause there was some software issues i was having. I'm hoping I can keep this computer running perfectly cause it's perfect right now. I do remember though in 2003 I killed this computer so many times. I remember doing 2 formats in one month and then i think 3 months after i had to format again. I learned my lesson though, lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CloudEngineer Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 when it messes up.. for example.. installed drivers.. bsod on normal startup.. because of radlinker no way to remove it so i fromatted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zirus Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 usually about every 2 months or so. More frequently than every 6 thats for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoneAvail Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 when it runs slower then a pentium with 674KB of memory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uniacidz Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 Used to do it once every 2 weeks. Glad i did as now i can format comp faster and configure it faster as well once installed. However, now last install was on 28/12/04 and i aint looking to reformat in a while. Ghost imaging also backs me up as does System Restore, but i havent had to use one yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rix Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 Whenever Windows goes all anal on me :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gertin Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 About every 6 months and when Microsoft releases a new OS (XP x64 .. :happy:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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