When do you format your PC? - Page 2

DanPonjican · 07-06-2009, 02:22 PM

Once a year typically for me.

**htmlbasictutor** · 07-06-2009, 02:25 PM

Only time I've had to reinstall Win 95, 98 and XP were when I was tinkering and broke it myself.

larryatv7 · 07-06-2009, 11:46 PM

I have never done that.

teamnirvana · 07-07-2009, 12:33 AM

I formatted my PC 15 months back, to be exact.

Always update your antivirus and keep scanning ur entire PC, full scan, for any traces of virii.

foodpyramidguru · 07-07-2009, 06:51 AM

I format because virus playing me.

daemon king · 07-10-2009, 07:48 AM

I usually format my harddrive when I am about to install new OS.If not,if there is a virus in my PC,I ll format it.

**Muddy** · 07-11-2009, 06:02 PM

I have never, ever reformatted any machine I've ever owned. Ever. Is that bad?

Atom · 07-11-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddy

I have never, ever reformatted any machine I've ever owned. Ever. Is that bad?

No, that's good. It means you don't surf much porn or download much music. It also means that you're careful what you open in email and probably have a good junk mail filter.

Atom · 07-11-2009, 06:58 PM

I think a good browser such as FF is important as well, as Kev pointed out. Opera is good too.

**Hades** · 07-11-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddy

I have never, ever reformatted any machine I've ever owned. Ever. Is that bad?

Depends in which of the following 3 groups of users you are:

1-you have computer skills that are above the average and can keep a computer out of trouble.
good

2-you have an incredibly high level of tolerance and can continue using a computer even when its operating system is infected, slowed down or damaged.
bad

3-you buy new computers very often.
neutral

**htmlbasictutor** · 07-11-2009, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hades

1-you have computer skills that are above the average and can keep a computer out of trouble.
good

Like to add a 4th type:
You are type Hades type 1 but you tinker too much and test too many programs.

**Muddy** · 07-11-2009, 08:16 PM

How often is often?

**Hades** · 07-11-2009, 08:49 PM

That depends too

(the kind of applications that you need to run, the economy of each country, etc...).

I'd say a normal life span of a computer for a demanding user is 2 years, then the hardware is dated and the CPU/GPU intensive applications (games, video, etc) start to run slow.

And for an average user (internet, work, email, IM...) a good time to change the computer could be 4 or 5 years.

But then again, that depends on how much you expect to get from the machine and your economic possibilities. I change mine every 3/4 years (more for economic reasons than any other LOL), but a few times during that period I also upgrade the hardware when possible (ie: add more memory, change GPU, etc.).

How often do you change it?

**Muddy** · 07-11-2009, 09:25 PM

Well, I've had this laptop since hmmm, the middle of 07. Toshiba. Before that was another Toshiba I got in 05. Before that was a Sony I got in 03. Just thinking back, I guess I have gotten a new machine about every two years. I have always used Outlook for email and it's pretty picky about junk mail. I have also always had anti virus software. Norton for years until with the purchase of this machine I switched to Avast.

Atom · 07-11-2009, 09:42 PM

I use Trend Micro HouseCall for virus scanning. It's a free online virus and spyware scanner, but I use it just for the virus scan feature, I use Ad-aware for spyware scanning, it's free as well. I've had my current PC for the last 6 years or so and have never upgraded it except to add a few meg of memory to total out at 768 meg. I don't do games. The PC's I had before this one were causalities of my inexperience. I haven't had to format in about 5 years now.

**Muddy** · 07-11-2009, 09:48 PM

Oh yeah I run Ad-aware too. Forgot.

**Muddy** · 07-11-2009, 10:30 PM

Hype added a type!

**Muddy** · 07-11-2009, 10:31 PM

One of these days Hyper, I'm gonna make you laugh like a girl. Wait...you are a girl.

thegamerslink · 07-11-2009, 10:48 PM

I have to say this subject is a real pet peeve of mine. There are so many computer techs out there that the fist answer they present is reformat. I go about 4-5 years or whenever I do a major system upgrade before having to reformat. Keeping your windows program updated, your virus program updated and using a firewall, personally I use ZoneAlarm Internet Suite on mine, keeping them all running and updated will keep your problems at a minimum, using alternate browsers such as FireFox(the one I recommend and use) or Opera another nice one, or Safari will help protect you. Never assume a free program is completely free, these almost always contain some type of adware.

If your system does start to slow down there are several steps that one can take long before having to actually wipe the entire drive and start all over again, keep in mind, backing up files to another drive then putting them back on a fresh drive, if they are infected when backed up they will be infected on the new drive as well....

Go to Norton's website or Mcafee's website and make use of their free virus scanning tool in addition to the one that you have already installed on your system this double checks, if you do have a virus, most can be easily removed by grabbing a removal tool for free from Norton or Mcaffee, or your own anti-virus site...at least be able to find instructions for removal...then you have another program that is "System Mechanic" by Lilo, this program does help especially older systems get rid of the trash out of registry, old lost files and other floating info that is no longer in use.

Just a few suggestions that may help one not have to follow the nightmare of a monthly or yearly reformat...remember, reformatting should always be the very last resort action.

JennyRipley · 09-04-2009, 02:11 AM

I just reformat my pc when I reinstall the operating system or some virus attack my computer that cause some files have been destroyed.