Win XP sp 1 - Reformatting (how often)

[Evilgrin]

I am wondering how often other users out there find the need to reformat thier machine on order that windows be performing to a acceptable standard. (obviously windows xp sp1 people here)

For starters ...

I use nortons system works 2003 almost daily to clear the cache/cookies and do a disk clean up (temp files et al)

I also defragment the hard disk (nortons speed disk) once a week.

I am up to date with all micosoft patches and services packs ect.

Ive been running my machine now on this intallation for about 6 months and are starting to feel that its a bit sluggish, most possibly due to dud registry enteries and so on ?

So how often are we formatting people ? any advice on keeping my windows running smoothly ( other than the above ofcourse).

With 14 gig of mp3's and around the same in music video im really not too keen on reformatting , *looks at stack of back up cd-r's* :rolleyes:

[Oh-Sigh-Ris]

i usually do one every 2 - 3 months.

I change hardware a lot, so i do reinstalls quite a bit.

BTW, the idea would be to put all your media files (music, movies, videos etc) in a separate partition, so that when you format, you only have to format your windows and programs partition(s).

It also makes you keep your media files to a reasonable size (i.e. when you have a full media partition, you have to delete your old/not used stuff), keeps stuff ticking over.

[Geek4Life]

A lot more often than I should. I'm the person that does a reformat when he's got nothing better to do :eek:

Definitely learn about partitions ;)

[Evilgrin]

Thats a very good idea, im quite paranoid about loosing all my music ! like id seriously want to jump off a bridge if I lost all my full mp3 albums.

My hardware is'nt changing much at moment but what I am doing alot of is installing and uninstalling stuff which is I think clogging up my registry ( if done incorrectly say ) .

I really want a no bull-**** registry cleaner that will be effective and wont let me noob up anything I did'nt want to be doing.:D

[Secern]

1 word Partions :D + Linux LOL (bugger)

[Evilgrin]

I have the newest distro of debain right here, think im going to be clever and use it ! no ... why ? im too lazy.

Id love the brilliance that is linux but serious cant be bothered hunting down the maze of apps I need to make it as funcational is windows xp is now ...

Im also not sure if linux will support my MS bluetooth wireless kb and mouse or my modem for that matter ..:mad:

[_N_]

I haven't reformated in months and months,

I change my hardware around quite a bit,
I only defraged a couple of times during the last year,
I run Windows 2000
I have no SP installed (the first time I installed a SP on win2k it wen't all crap, that was a couple of years ago, haven't installed a SP since then, :D )
I upgraded some things, but no major OS updates.


As for Partitions,
I got two HDD's.
first has these partitions: OS and programs, swapfile, storage of setup files, music, second HDD has more storage of movies and games and stuff.
Makes it much more easier to manage that way.

[Grrr!!]

Partitions people.

I just reinstalled mine the other day. Hell of a lot faster, but my system was incredibly overloaded with crap.

[Evilgrin]

Ive got 2 120gig hdd's (maxtor 7200 rpm) so storage aint really a problem, all media/music and so on is kept on the second hd, I guess it gets down to keeping the installation clean then ?

I think the registry is like the only thing I dont really look after ? :( to my peril

[KingJackal]

I never format and install again. Well, I'm yet to ever have to.

I install an OS, do it right, and run it - generally with 2-4 week uptimes for a year or three ( lol, some of you people probably re-install your OS more often than I restart my machine :eek: ). Then I buy a new OS, and install from scratch, taking care to build it properly.

Why would you bother with all that re-installing crap? :confused:



BTW, I don't run Norton Systemworks or anything like that - it's just bloat. I defragment every month if I'm lucky ( and that's with 180GB of storage and over 170GB currently used... ). I don't have ANY virus scanners.

And I don't understand why people DO need all that crap... o_0

[Evilgrin]

I agree about building the os right, but are you sure your machine isnt riddled with ad-ware and viruses ?

[whetu]

If I was running 9x, I'd be reinstalling every 6 months.

I run 2k and only ever reinstall if it somehow gets borked beyond repair, or circumstances require it (installing a new hard drive for example)

I dont have a set reinstallation schedule for it because it doesnt need it. A defrag every couple of months and a run of regclean and she just keeps going

as a matter of interest, the dc hub's uptime:

[_N_]

>>I agree about building the os right, but are you sure your machine isnt riddled with ad-ware and viruses ?

viruses - I installed Norton AntiVirus and gave my whole system a check a couple of weeks ago, it passed fine. If I get an email saying pic.jpg.vbs I'm not gonna open it, cause I'm not that dumb.


It's all about taking care of your OS and looking after it.
You don't need any fancy add on tools if you look after it in the first place.

[imdying]

Hope you touched wood after posting that pic whetu ;)

[KingJackal]

Originally posted by Evilgrin
I agree about building the os right, but are you sure your machine isnt riddled with ad-ware and viruses ?

I've never had a virus on my machine before - but I did once have an instance of some spyware ( I noticed a strange process was running on my machine, downloaded and ran Spybot S&D, and killed it ).

99% of viruses and spyware would never happen if people secured their email and web browsing, and took more careful note of software they installed ;).

[Evilgrin]

Indeed im pretty paranoid about getting spyware and viruses, the second I get spam I go nuts ttrying to find out how I got it because I pratically never install anything remotely spywareish and never give me real e-mail out to web sites, Ive got a junk hotmail adress specifically for it.

[Yuen]

I have 2 Partitions on my 40 gig, 15 gigs is for Win XP SP1, the rest for storage.

Used to format every 3 months or so, but I find that it isn't really required nowadays, can do with 6 months. It depends on who uses the computer really, if it's my dad, he clicks Yes to lots of the Gator popups etc. so I've gotta format often. :rolleyes:

[Geek4Life]

I run a virus scanner because of other peoples stupidity. It is rather easy to pick up a virus off someone at a LAN.

[cadmax]

o.s. win XP pro + SP1
format every 4-8 weeks

hdds in the rig

2x 80GB
2x 120GB
1x 40GB

total about 440GB of space

running Norton Systemworks
and all that stuff :p

all most 1/2 a TB now on my network :)

[ExtremE]

average probly 2-3 weeks unless it is still runing fine

[dumass]

*wonders* i havnt reformated since the start of the year, and xp+sp1 is working fine for me.

it has survived:

-Grafix card swap
-Mobo swap
-HDD swap
-Change from 56k > adsl
-sblive > Onboard sound > sblive

And it is still running fast.

Just got 7300 3dmark2k1 points with my gf4mx440

I have XP on a 6gig partition, swapfile on a dedicated 700meg partition, all the other stuff on whats left of 120gig drive.

[Disrespective]

Me being me and the world deciding to kick me in the ass, i had to reformat 3 times in 4 days recently when i started playing around with things i didn't know anything about, and the damn PC kept having physical memory dumps.

But other than that i probably would want to reformat every 6-12 months or so.

[Yuen]

Originally posted by dumass
*wonders* i havnt reformated since the start of the year, and xp+sp1 is working fine for me.

it has survived:

-Grafix card swap
-Mobo swap
-HDD swap
-Change from 56k > adsl
-sblive > Onboard sound > sblive

And it is still running fast.

Just got 7300 3dmark2k1 points with my gf4mx440

I have XP on a 6gig partition, swapfile on a dedicated 700meg partition, all the other stuff on whats left of 120gig drive.

Wow, did not know 6 gigs would be enough for XP :)
So u install all your games/apps on the 120 gb?

[Yuen]

By the way, just found this on some site. It's useful for most of the people here who format often and actually use Windows Update :) With this you won't need to re-download everything everytime you format.

It's the corporate windows update site, so you can actually save everything to your HDD.

Windows Update Corporate Version (http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp?corporate=true)

[2 much thinking]

I have Win Xp installed with SP1 on a 4G partition, I have 512mb of Ram and included in that 4G is my swapfile. Ive never had a swapfile overflow and I currently have 800mb free on that partition.

My next partition is where EVERYTHING gets installed (25G) and then my final partition is 120G for all my media, music and setup files.

I run 2 * WD800JB's in Raid 0. Everything I need + extra is backed up in my server with a 120GB segate.

I haven't reinstalled since going raid which has been about 2 months. Before that was 2-4 months.

[prod]

With win9x I was reformat/reinstalluing once every couple of weeks, with XP, the last time was well over ten months ago - I just can't get it to die on me.

G P

[zarathrustra]

necro-bot

awesome.

[Iblis]

http://allaboutadvocacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/movie_i_see_dead_people.jpg