How often do you reformat your computer?
 

My PCs are getting pretty sluggish. Probably been 3 years since my last reformat.

What's the norm? Not for average people, but for people that work with a variety of applications every day.

Not looking forward to this!

Never formatted my current system - been approx. 5 years.

I do a fair amount of tuneup maintenance on it, tho...various utils.

If I got to the point it needs formatting...time for a replacement.

I can't remember the last time I reformatted any drive. Everything has been running fine for me.

I generally only start from scratch when changing major versions. I used XP for something like 8 to 10 years. I've heard that you're "supposed" to reinstall Windows every 6 to 12 months to keep it working fast, but my install didn't start playing up until a few months before I upgraded to 8.1 (and that was only because XP support was being discontinued). It must have known the writing was on the wall. :thumbsup

Probably a good rule. I did just switch to 10. Was thinking of throwing SSD's in while at it. Should easily extend the life a few more years.

its been 3+ years. and now i am upgrading so will install win 10 on my new SSD on new system.

Never.

I'm on OS X for several machines and Windows 7 for a couple.

I don't recall ever doing that. If I did, it was a very long time ago.

I format once every 12 months. I can't imagine not doing it every year or two. You must not do anything if your computer isn't atleast a step slower after using it for that period of time, if not considerably slower

Ive never formatted a computer and not noticed a considerable difference in speed, so why wouldn't you, doesn't take long and externals/backups are cheap

every few years

I think I have never formatted a drive... :)

This doesn't make sense.

Formatting a hard drive does not make a computer quicker.

Perhaps your computer is slow because you use an OS which leaves junk everywhere, that's different and if it's Windows you can clean away that junk and speed up the machine without the very drastic step of reformatting.

Yes it does make it faster, this isn't a matter of opinion, its a fact. And it doesn't matter what OS you use. (well version of windows - as my experience is with all windows operating systems)

And there are tools to help, but not one tool does it all, and what do you mean by drastic? You keep files on an external or move them to an external and you run the setup again and format the drive. Formatting takes 5 seconds and a fresh install takes 20 minutes

You wouldn't need tools if apps and your OS didnt' slow down your computer over the years.

When you download new software, new games, attempt to fix your own drivers, third party apps, download pirated software, visit porn sites, etc etc etc - your computer will be slower. And lets say you didn't format for 5 years, there isn't an app in the world that could make your computer run like a fresh format/install. You are dreaming. You are reaching for a debate to win. lol

I have fixed thousands of computers in my life so like i said, its not a matter of opinion. Fresh install and format will make a computer run smoother than going in and trying to fix the errors with tools or attempting to simply just reload on the OS to test for corrupted files, etc - Are there tools to manage your computer to stretch out how long it takes for your computer to drag, of course. The average person causes a mess of a computer, maybe a tech savvy person who sticks to simple business work does not

And even if you do not think the majority of computers could use it (which they do), formatting keeps things neat by deleting any unused files, its like spring cleaning and reduces the space used on a disk.

Once in a few years.

This reformatting thing is kinda 90's and early 2000's thing. There are shitload of tools today those do great job maintaining your computer. I use CCleaner, maybe not the best, but at least it is free. + Defraggler from the same company, free also.

How about viruses/spyware, corrupted windows files, corrupted drivers, running out of disk space, application errors you think these things are still exclusive to 15+ years ago? lol

Im not saying there isn't ways to go about searching out most problems with effort and time. But the time put into narrowing down issues and running all these apps would take more time and cause more of a headache than a fresh install that is not as time consuming as people build up in their head. most people dont even keep files organized or maintain them properly with weekly cleanup tools. Computers become a mess. Maybe you are neat and maybe you do not run a computer like most. But fresh format and install is not a thing of the past and this wasn't a question with whether or not is it possible to not need to format, it was moreso a question with whether most should or not very often.

How long would it take for you to run all the apps to fix all the potential issues i just mentioned, from start to finish? Or how about an error you dont know how to fix? To narrow it down, all of these processes would take longer than a format. (not all webmasters are tech savvy, being a webmaster only proves theyre web savvy - a format is much easier than troubleshooting problems)

I have anti-virus software + that mentioned CCleaner, corrupted files can be fixed and it is kinda automatic in these days (if you have internet connection), running out of disk space; I buy new hard drive, application errors; installing application again if it is not fixed automatically/ semi-automatically.

I run CCleaner every time when I need to have some security; like after logging in my websites (and logged out of course), it takes about 5-10 seconds. I put Defraggler to run pretty much every time I go to walk my dog. It doesn't finish in that time, but it doesn't matter that much. It can also run on the side if I don't do any heavy duty stuff.

Like i said, there are ways to avoid a computer becoming slow, this isn't about getting a medal for knowing how to keep your computer clean and running smoothly, its about whether most need to after a couple years. And firstly, alot of people dont keep their virus scanner even running, if they even have one installed at all, considering theyre set off nonstop by just about everything (due to cracks), and with pirated software being the norm these days. Not doing the necessary things leads to computers dragging, most do not do these things.

Secondly, you would buy a new harddrive instead of deleting apps you no longer use? Seems like you are reaching to prove a point that formatting is a thing from year 2000 ;)

Thirdly, like i said in the first point, things build up , when you do not fix an issue or notice an issue right away, more happen in time and over a period of time, a computer is slower and theres alot of application errors, possibly some you just worked around, my point is that they add up and it gets to a point where it makes more sense to format, which doesn't take much considering its a rather quick process. Almost everyone i speak to has issues they've been ignoring. Should i tell them to go and run a full computer virus scan that takes hours, then download and run ccleaner, which im sure most do not have on this forum, and then go uninstall unwanted apps, and run windows repair to see if there are any errors? lol this isn't a debate whether you can fix things. it what makes more sense to do alot of the time. and a 20 minute fresh clean install makes the most sense, especially windows operating systems coming out pretty fast in recent years, meaningthere will be some apps not even compatible too. if you dont recall, there was people already mentioning they did a format before installing 10, and theres a reason for that.

Sly give us a test, run anti virus for an hour, or two or however long it takes, full scan, then run ccleaner, and whatever other tools they suggest, then format. See if you notice an improvement, even after all the tools! I got my money on the fresh format ;)

I don't keep up to date on PC tech these days but after 3 years you should probably buy a new drive. Most drives these days have a couple of years warranty don't they?

Fresh install is pain in the ass. Not because it would be hard, because it is fresh install. It is starting over in good and in the bad. I did fresh install this spring (I finally dumped Vista) and I still haven't 70 % of the programs I used to have. It is a real pain to install shitload of programs again, game's save files, rescue files and settings, etc. Installing the Windows, etc. is the easy part, the rest ain't so.

Apps don't fill my hard drive. I have about 1 terabit worth of disk space and that is not even much in these days. Apps are nothing with that capacity, it is the other things those take the space.

How come you did a fresh install?

Strange, guess it depends on the computer. I work on my computer and am on it nonstop and do alot on my computer and formatting is not a pain in the ass, then again, im sure when you dont ever do it, you forget some stuff to backup or dont have a good organized way to do it. For me, I have a folder for the few things i need to manually put back in, for example, IM/Email history/game save data/bookmarks/photoshop action files/lightroom files, but thats about it. The rest is media files that I just keep on the external because theres no need for them on your windows drive. If you keep your files on a non OS drive, theres no real worry about backing up anything and if you format every 1 year or 2, it doesn't get unorganized

To reload on the files i need on my OS drive (setting files i mentioned above), takes no more than 5 min for myself and i think i run alot of applications and games. Reinstalling the applications doesn't take very long for me. Especially since you just reinstall the ones you use on a daily basis, over time you collect them again (also allows you to get the newest versions)

I do understand people get anxious about this kind of stuff, so in their heads, seems like a bigger process than it is. The stress of possibly losing files, stress of having to put everything back, even if it doesn't take that long, etc - just easier to avoid that for some. But I do think saying its probably not needed on most peoples computers who use it for many many purposes, would be incorrect

All the fucking time! My OS is a throwaway these days. I don't lose a damned thing when I change OS's.

It was from Windows Vista to Windows 8.1, there really isn't any other viable method than fresh install.

And I too have many files on other drive than in the one where the OS is, but it is just for saving those files. I have used two hard drives for more than a decade and I keep operating system in the newer one and bulk files in the older one. So, basically I do clean installs only when changing OS (if the change is significant) or when I update hard drive(s).

I had to format my Amiga's HD back in '87 or something... Haven't had the need since then.

Since 1997, I reformat every year since I learned how.

Sometimes, it was twice a year, but now, it's annually across all 6 systems.

Machines are so much nicer and 'feel' better. Psychological too especially after all teh bullshit that's been in & out since then.

Kinda like dates I've had.

<33
T

It seems like ever since I switched to ssds I haven't felt the need to do it. However on my good machines I tend to not be installing and uninstalling lots of programs all the time. I try to keep one shitty machine that I use to experiment on.

I remember back with xp it seemed like you couldn't go more than a couple years without having to reformat.

I guess using 2 drives, one for data and one for os, is probably partly why my machines no longer get bogged down.

Average consumer drives are 5 years. Enterprise drives are about 10+ (NASA & astronaut shit)

I only buy enterprise drives now direct from manufacturers.

In the early 2000s, I had 2 drives die on me in one year with my camming shit on them, and 4 websites, *poof* out of the blue. Never again.

Only go for the elite drives now, no boutique builders. Worth the extra money. Can't afford EVER for stuff to die now. Double nightly backups to external drives ever since I can remember.


<33
T

it's a bit of a pain, so might as well build a new computer, and do a fresh install on that...

I usually do it each night before I go bed, so I can start afresh in the morning...

I don't really reformat unless I have to. I defrag my computer maybe once every 6 months. Run CCleaner every other day to clean up files.

And just went to defrag and found out it is automatically done in the background now.

I'm in desperate need a of a reformat because I'm getting random lockups, but some heavy work is preventing it now. It's a giant pain in the ass for me because my main workstation is a server for a renderfarm, and I have lots of license servers for various graphics software. It's no picnic getting up and running again.

Just use SSD drives. In all of my computers now.

I installed a 1 TB SSD in my iMac, installation was a little more involved, I shorted the cooling fan sensor for the hdd otherwise it'll run full speed all the time. Runs everything with loading being 1/2 to 1/8 the time the HDD took.

Still cost me over $300 but worth it.
SSD are cheap enough that a 256GB Samsung really shouldn't make you break a sweat.

I'm running a 2010 iMac 27"

haven't done it in the last 4 years

I reformat my main workstation once every 6 months to 1 year - I have 1 SSD drive and 4 other drives in it so I can easily store many backups and reformat with no issue. I like to keep my computer running great especially since I do a lot of PC Gaming.

I build new custom workstations about every 2 years or so to take advantage of the latest hardware.

I test out a lot of software. I use the cleaning tools like ccleaner, etc. They are still running like junk. You guys that never have issues must be wonderdudes LOL.

I had the EA tech guy helping with one of my computers the other day. He had me going through the registry changing some things so I could get a game to work. The keys that I saw were from things I installed years ago. All sorts of leftover residue. Not sure why you wouldn't clean that out?

Some people are light users and I would not expect them to need a reformat. Other people are heavy users and beat their equipment all to hell, that's me.

Never.

I just get a new laptop each 4 or 5 years and done

almost every year :(

As long as you don't clog it up with shit, it's the person behind the computer that makes all the difference.

haven't done a reformat since going from XP to Vista. before that used to do it pretty often, 1-2 times a year.

for me to do a reformat now would take a whole day just to setup everything like i'd need, move instant massengers' history, mail, setup properly various document locations, install and setup all the apps i use. on top of that, if you gonna do all that you might as well unhook your box and dust off everything inside - this needs to be done 1-2 times a year anyway.

for people whose systems are not on SSDs i can imagine computer getting slower over time - you need to run defrag once in a while.

only tool I use is CCleaner, my PC runs smooth and fast, like a brand new after several years and few upgrades. no issues.

Are you supposed to reformat your computer? LOL

I think I have defragmented my computer a few times.....try that. It seemed to clear up some issues.
Or try System Restore to a point when it was working better.