Reformat?

[Scorpiоn]

I think I reformat far too often.  Granted, I might be lucky considering the kind of things I pull with my PC; hotswapping is the order of the day here.  And what's a grounding strip?

Just curious as to how I compare with everyone else.  I swear I've read XP's new and exciting features more than most people care to dream.

[NicksFXHouse]

[quote]I think I reformat far too often.

[ctjoyce]

I wipe the slate clean once a year just to get rid of all the unwanted clutter that seems to get on the disk. I do it every year on my birthday (April 10). And thankfully I got my file server running, so I didnt even have to worry about DVDs, just backup strate across the room

Cheers
Cameron

[Brett_Henderson]

My brother said something once, that made me laugh and think..

"Windows is so complicated, it's like an organic phenomenon"


An installation not only gets better with age, through countless tweaks and settings... it kinda settles into "your" routine. If you have a LOT of software; the way you mess things up and the way Window staightens them out (frag-defrag for a simple example) can become a more efficient thing as time goes by (as opposed to how it all runs after a format and reinstallation of all that stuff).

I can't state this for fact, but have no trouble believing it:  There are more than a few "if and or else" decisions made by Windows, that we don't even KNOW about (or why) that could actually go more than one way under identical circumstances (I guess that means that Windows might even "guess" now and then  lol )... And, there is legend that there is "dead" code still floating around in there. Meaning:  "They think" they debugged it and have worked around it, but are afraid to delete it    ...

Anyway... I used to format 95 and 98 and ME installations on a schedule.. like maintanence. I don't format an XP install unless I know exactly why, or have run out of options, or have no choice.

[legoalex2000]

i only format under 2 conditions:

>I'm installing anew operating system
or
>my drive has run into a dead end with problems.

otherwise, the system is fine just the wa it is. i see no need in going throgh the whole format process. then again i don't download a bazillion programs either.

I know my C:\ drive is long due for a format, it just seems like a pain to do. also I have no floppy drive, so i cant use system restore points and bdisk backups.

ramos

[n_richardson05]

i had a compaq before my current pc and i reformated almost every two to three months that sucked. but now i rarely half to

[kipman725]

I reformat when my disk is cluttered with stuff thats been there so long I have forgoten what it is and so don't know If I need to keep it.

I also reformat if I'm performing a major hardware upgrade such as a motherboard.

I once had a nasty virus and had to reformat then as it infected every .exe file.  I got that a lan (damm you pitman).

[caveman16]

    Hey Guys,   I"ve just got to get in on this.     I've done the reformat only one time due to a virus.     However - - - I mess-up things sooooooo bad  that it would be  the best thing for me to just wipe out everything and start over fresh  [ OFTEN ].

    When I do the messing-up - - - - it defies every effort to even find out the problem  ;D  

     I  "tell" myself  - - -  it's fun and games time .    ;D

                   caveman

[alrot]

Due that I don't like to defrag,this is the worth option that ms has brough,missing files,errors in the register,mp3 song that doen't open so as videos,all consequences of Desfrag,so instead I format

[Scorpiоn]

That is indeed reformatting Alrot.

[4_Series_Scania]

Hav'nt had to re-install this PC since I built it, getting on for 13months now.  ;)

Re-Format is a last resort, there are ways to fix 95% of Windows issues without this drastic step.

[congo]

Well, you're not much fun Paul.

[Woodlouse2002]

I never reformat. Even when I built my new PC I used my old HD and just reinstalled windows.

My boss on the other had reformats every six months because he swears over time windows clogs up and slows down. But then he also believes that turning a computer off without shutting windows down first will do untold damage, something most people stopped thinking 10 years ago. Just two reasons why I just don't do computers at work.

[kipman725]

I never reformat. Even when I built my new PC I used my old HD and just reinstalled windows.

My boss on the other had reformats every six months because he swears over time windows clogs up and slows down. But then he also believes that turning a computer off without shutting windows down first will do untold damage, something most people stopped thinking 10 years ago. Just two reasons why I just don't do computers at work.

can cause data coruption if your hard disks been accessed when you turn the pc off.  

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote]

can cause data coruption if your hard disks been accessed when you turn the pc off.