How often do you reformat?

dreamache

New member
Jun 26, 2006
4,393
130
0
Maybe I'm a newb who doesn't know how to keep his computer running quickly/smoothly, but it seems like every 12 months I need to start fresh and reinstall everything + OS. I know all about minimizing running processes + startup, but still doesn't seem to get things running as quickly as they do after a new install.
 


I'm going to reformat my mac for the 1st time. I only have 6 gb free on HD and I only use 20gb of prgrams and like 30gb of music. Are you on PC or Mac?

PC. Yeah I hardly have space left on my main HD as well.
 
I've never reformatted my mac and stopped reformatting my pc once I installed 5 drives and use Acronis True Image. Formatting becomes a thing of the past because in 5 minutes you can reinstall to a set state.

I have one when it was like new, so windows is fresh and just has a few progs, then others with various configs so I can switch between them, much like virtual machines, as and when i want. It only takes about 5 minutes to reinstall an image and it makes the whole process of needing reformats painless and quick.
 
At least with Windows before 7, every 6 - 12 months. Been using 7 for about 8 months or so I think, been solid.
 
I've never had to reformat. If you use CCleaner to clean up your startup, registry, and delete your temporary files and program caches and have Kaspersky Internet Security running - it's better than an new install.

I'd also recommend using Glary Utilities. If you are having pesky disk issues, use the Disk Analyzer in it to narrow down and free up space. I've had issues where I delete something and it ends up adding to the recycle bin in a hidden file. You can delete it permanently with that tool. Glary also has a neat bulk uninstall feature that will remove any linked folders and not leave them on your system.
 
  • Like
Reactions: zingo
Get a Mac then you won't need to reformat any more. If you have windows programs you can't do without get 2 screens and use virtualbox, one for each os, and you can use them both at the same time on the same physical machine. Without 2 screens you can still run windows in a window.
 
every 2 weeks on my windows pc. Never on my ubuntu computer.


Every two weeks? You're doing something terribly wrong if you have to reformat ever two weeks, that's fucking crazy. I'll reformat every year or so just to keep shit running perfect, but even that really isn't necessary.

Get a Mac then you won't need to reformat any more. If you have windows programs you can't do without get 2 screens and use virtualbox, one for each os, and you can use them both at the same time on the same physical machine. Without 2 screens you can still run windows in a window.

mac_vs_pc.jpg
 
The minute my PC lags for any reason, or gives me errors: during normal operation, startup, or shutdown. Windows is truly aggravating.
 
after you reformat, and get your apps installed make ghost image or a clonezilla image of your best working machine so you can go back to that image when your registry or virus or what ever fucks your machine up. I +rep Clonezilla or Norton Ghost.

cheers:D
 
Not as often as I should. I want to reformat it much more regular for fear of trojans/bots/viri.

I keep all my docs/pics/vids/mp3 on a external HDD that is kept cloned on another HDD by Second Copy 7 software.

But what would be useful software to make is much easier than having to reinstall all the apps again and again on drive C?
 
About once every 12 - 18 months. I am a technician so I don't need to format that often. But hey. When things get majorly fucked and it'll take 6 hours to fix it, I might as well just spend 1 or 2 hours formatting the sucker rather than waste my time for half assed results.
 
As I said above, Acronis True Image

Seriously, save yourself some serious time and realise you don't have to format anymore...