How often to ReInstall XP?

[theonlycarmire]

Just reformatted my computer two days ago, something I haven't done yet since I bought it. It runs so smoothly now, I'm gonna do it a lot more. The only problem is, I have a Dell laptop (if it was a desktop, it would be homemade) and the folks at dell sent me horrible driver installation cards. My wireless lan card wasn't even supported when I turned it on. That was a bitch. So I had to download all the drivers I needed on my other computer and burn them to disk, cause I couldn't even get online to download them on this one... I think I'm gonna make a reformat CD and put all my drivers on it.

How often should one reformat?

[Zak33]

depends how much you install on your PC?

If you run lots of demo disks and install and then uninstall stuff alot, then every 6 months is good.

I have managed now for over 12 months with no fresh install because
A: I have 3 hdd's on SCSI and the primary one ONLY has XP on it, and nothing else.
B: The second one has justgames on, and I only play one game

[Zak33]

by the way..I shall re name your thread..itsa good subject, it deserves more than ........ for a title

[theonlycarmire]

BTW

Dont know how into lanning you guys are, but thats pretty much the main reason why I reformatted. Today, we got like 12 people who are all gonna be shoved into one basement for about 24 hours straight, eating nothing but pizza and soda. Sounds like bliss to me. We play like.... counterstrike, Call of Duty, Age of Empires II, Rise of Nations, Empire Earth, Rome Total War... umm, cant really think of the others right now, but it promises to be a damn fun time.

I only have 30 gigs, but I'm thinking about getting a 100 gig harddrive on eBay. Before my reformat, Windows had partitioned off 10 gigs, so I never knew I had it. I thought I only had 20 gigs. Don't ask me how it works, but when I went to reformat I found extra partitions that I didnt want. After the reformat... voila! 10 extra gigs. Thats a lot when you only have 20 to begin with.

I put a lot of games on it. A LOT. I also have a lot of programs to download music (I dunno if I'm supposed to say that here), make music (Acid 4.0 pro), all that stuff, so I guess I do put a lot on.

Every 3-6 months would probably be good

[weebroonieuk]

every week !

i try to hold it of for atleast 3 months between each install but i install alot of crap for testing purposes and mess about with things i shouldnt alot

but i do like a new fresh install so dont mind it too much

[Norky]

Usually end up having to do it every 6 months

[idimmu]

i do mine every 3-6 months depending on how i assess the situation, ie if there is a lot of crap left on it, its running slow etc i reformat. but recently, since ive started dual booting linux, i should have to reinstall XP less often becauise less gets installed on it.

incidently, how much do you guys partition off for windows?

[r1zeek]

Aye, 6 months sounds good.

I used to format my machine pretty much every 2 months (ahh, the joys of how BF1942 would just stop working!) but since I stopped playing BF1942, I haven't formatted (that's about 12 months now.)

Also the fact that I use another rig with Debian on for most of my web browsing, coding and writing, means that my windows machine just gets used for CS, music and a bit of browsing and MSN now and then.

[skattrd]

I do mine every 6-12 months.

I create a ghost image when its running smoothly and everythings installed that I use then install that, it saves alot of hassle

[Steve]

Twice in one week for me.... but usually I go for a >=6 month cycle if I can.

[Clstrphbc_donut]

Usually about 4 months between each, or whenever the system gets slow.

[johnnr892]

recntly I have done it 5 times in the last month! But usually I do it about every 5-6 months.

[iMc]

I try to last 12months each time...

did one last August and I feel I may have to do one before then this time...

[Xusen]

Hi
Last Month I reformated and reinstalled xp over 10 times not something fun but my friend came and used my computer...he messed something up which resulted to xp taking ages to boot..so i just kept installing and playing around until i was happy( only two progress bars), i would do it whenever your computer starts taking its time doing the things it used to do in seconds or you have been infected with so much spyware that it isnt worth cleaning up. I have been using windows xp media center for the last month and i have seen enough..time to reinstall xp pro.

[Randell Floyd]

Every month I tend to reformat my c: drive which contains windows and all the apps. I like a new fresh feeling every month and Im such a pro at doing so now it takes no time at all.

[BlueMagician]

This is extreme housekeeping! My XP installs usually last for years, but then I am carefull with what I install..

S.