Are you a reformat whore?

[CurrentlyPissed]

I myself, reformats way too often. I think in the last 6 months, I've probably reformated 5-7 times. Any time there's a hardware change, or anything starts to get a little flakey, I reformat.

[Greasy]

I used to be back in the windows xp days, but since moving to Vista/7, I just don't see the need anymore.

I will of course format when building a new rig, and if I were to switch back to an Nvidia GPU, I would probably do a clean build for that too.

[Spyder]

i used to a lot as well. i dont think i've formatted since installing Windows 7 for the first time when it came out.

[caveman-jim]

When I have issues that research indicates it will take longer to troubleshoot and resolve than nuke'n'pave, I reinstall.

[Galmok]

I don't think I have ever reformatted a disk for the purpose to reinstall windows (which I do not do). Only when I replace a disk do I reformat the old one (unless I keep it as a backup).

[VW_Factor]

Not often anymore no. I did a few times trying to get my X-Fi to work as it should. Since getting a Xonar, I think maybe I've installed a clean load of Win7 after changing my motherboard during an upgrade.

I used to be, but not so much anymore. If anything I'll just stop some services from loading on startup.

[FiggyG]

Only when changing Linux Distros. For Windows... I think I nuked my Win 7 install once since I started using it in late 2009.

[Qb2k5]

Everyone pretty much nailed it on the head.

Ever since Vista SP2 and Win7 I never needed to format unless like CMJ said if there is a software conflict that's pretty much a needle in the hay stack to find and could take days to find. Usually if I can't find a fix in 4-6 hours I give up.

I had my Win7 install since I got it back in 2009 and it still boots fast on my Raid0 array like it did as if it was a new install and is extremely responsive right after logging in. You just got be careful not to have alot of startups and run CCleaner once every 3 months.

If you do have tons of start-ups it might be best to invest in an SSD.

BTW Win8 boots up much faster than Win7.

[Greasy]

Originally Posted by Qb2k5

BTW Win8 boots up much faster than Win7.

Yeah, but after that it sucks.

[guest]

My main desktops have not needed a reinstall of the OS. Have not reinstalled the same OS for about 7 years now.

Of course when I went from XP to Vista to Windows 7 I have to install the new OS.. but even then I still keep the old OS around on another partition so I can jump in and move the crap out I forgot. I use RAID 1 arrays on my three main systems so I have some space to play with and never lose my setup.

I did suffer from reinstall madness during the Windows 2000 days

[Treeckcold57]

I do it only if I still have to dealing with a stupid virus or whatever it is that is harder to remove from my system. I'd reformat it. I usually reformat my pc for like 1-2 times a year. That's it. As long as I maintain it very well, so no need to reformat really often.

[Danny Nissan]

I do it when I install new hardware (like CPU motherboard etc).

RAM and GPU (even when changing brands) i just change (uninstall drivers for GPU is almost always enough) with no reformat.

OFC if I have massive issues with an install i just nuke it. My current install is since Win7 was out on MSDNAA a few years back.

[Mangler]

No, yesterday I reformated my system for the first time in three years to see if it would fix the issues I had with saints row 3 and crossfire.

Sadly it made no difference.

[FMT]

I used to be. Now I cant be stuffed. But anytime something happens like a bizarre error etc, I will. Normally its about 4 - 6 months now (or change of hardware)

[Destroy]

Originally Posted by Mangler

No, yesterday I reformated my system for the first time in three years to see if it would fix the issues I had with saints row 3 and crossfire.

Sadly it made no difference.

Man, that sucks. Hate when that happens. I shelf a game if I can't resolve it in reasonable time.

OS installs? Once very 3 years. In XP and win98 days use to be once every 6 months.

[Hyrax]

Originally Posted by CurrentlyPissed

I myself, reformats way too often. I think in the last 6 months, I've probably reformated 5-7 times. Any time there's a hardware change, or anything starts to get a little flakey, I reformat.

I get paranoid that there are viruses and trojans out there that some 1337 Haxor coded that are invisible to virus scanners. So I see no harm in reformatting often.

[sandorski]

I don't even remember the last time I reformatted. 2 years ago I Formatted my current Boot Drive for my current Build and that's all.

[FMT]

Shouldnt have posted in this thread. My hard drive died. And I had to replace it and reload windows again. Lol

[Loser-P]

Back when I used Windows 98SE I would reformat and reinstall about once a month. Windows ME about every 2 or 3 months. Windows 2000 maybe every 6 months. I've had Windows 7 since it came out and I've installed it twice. Last time was about a year ago and I feel no need so far to reinstall.

Obviously windows has gotten much better over the years and is far less likely to get messed up over time or exhibit some random weirdness from the get go.

Also I hate reinstalling now, it's such a pain to get everything back where I want it so I put it off even if it seems necessarily.

I generally wait for a major update like a service pack or new version of IE to do a fresh install of windows.

[voodoo1]

Back with 98/2k/XP I used to format every few months. With 7 I might have done it 2x since it's release. It has been an awesome O/S and have not had many issues out of it. Been the most stable O/S i've ever used.

[Hatecrime69]

I hate reformatting with a passion, but with a new motherboard coming in I'm afraid i might have to do the nuke and pave..but i really don't want to go though installing vista, then installing 7 on top

[GanjaStar]

on win xp very often. vista64 i never reinstalled. win 7 i reinstalled once cause i deleted some backup files that sp 1 installer checked for.

just don't see the need for a reformat.

[hobs0n]

As most others have said, IMO Windows 7 doesnt really needs reformat, it just works I did reformat when it was needed, which was 2 times in all these W7 years and one of these was on my laptop with the version that came with it with all the crapware and it finally buggered out so I had to to a reinstall. The sad about this was that I mailed MSI about getting a W7 dvd but they never answered so I had to get my copy by myself... Is this always this messy getting a real install from the OEMs?

[Eisberg]

I used to, but don't anymore. I buy upgrade versions. So for me to format and reinstall, With Windows Vista and 7 you have to have an eligble previous version of windows in order to use the Upgrade. This is so annoying and wish I knew a way just to use my Windows 7 upgrade disk to install from scratch, but it won't let me unless I have an Eligble Windows 64 bit version already installed, which I then have to install Windows Vista 64 bit, but I have to have Windows XP updated and installed in order to use the Vista 64 disk.


I have to:

Install Windows XP,, putting in my Window ME disk to prove that I can use the upgrade to windows XP, and then update

Install Windows Vista 64 Bit, upgrade to SP2

Then install Windows 7

[Treeckcold57]

Originally Posted by Eisberg

I used to, but don't anymore. I buy upgrade versions. So for me to format and reinstall, With Windows Vista and 7 you have to have an eligble previous version of windows in order to use the Upgrade. This is so annoying and wish I knew a way just to use my Windows 7 upgrade disk to install from scratch, but it won't let me unless I have an Eligble Windows 64 bit version already installed, which I then have to install Windows Vista 64 bit, but I have to have Windows XP updated and installed in order to use the Vista 64 disk.


I have to:

Install Windows XP,, putting in my Window ME disk to prove that I can use the upgrade to windows XP, and then update

Install Windows Vista 64 Bit, upgrade to SP2

Then install Windows 7

then don't buy the upgrade version, just buy a full retail version. Problem solved.

[Hyrax]

If you have a WD hardrive, you can download a free copy of acronis. That way you reformat, install the **** you need. Then create an image.

Now all you have to do to reformat the partition with the image.

http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...l.asp?swid=119

[Redshirt_X]

I'll do it if I have to redo my system, which for me means either a motherboard or boot drive swapout, but that's it--I won't do it otherwise unless absolutely necessary.

[OldMX]

Lol no, I'm an imaging whore, in case something goes wrong, just restore the computer with the last image backup, I still have a Vista x64 SP2 computer running as strong as day 1, same goes for all my other computers with Windows 7.

[shrike126]

After about a year or so I might, just because I feel like over time things get cluttered and I'm wanting to do a spring cleaning and clear things out. I have found that it's easier to install VM boxes and do everything in these. So for instance I have one setup for Visual Studio. If I decide to scrap my install later I can delete the VM box without affecting the rest of the PC.

[fierro]

Originally Posted by caveman-jim

When I have issues that research indicates it will take longer to troubleshoot and resolve than nuke'n'pave, I reinstall.

What he said.....Also, using images make the whole process a piece of cake....