[604778]

I got friends that are super computer nerds tell me that I should reformat my PC every 6 months or so. Wouldn't it mess up the hard drive? I'm using a SSD that supports trim. If I do a fresh install would it be the same as I first installed windows on it?

[SkinnyPupp]

What is it 1998 again or something?

You don't need to reformat any time, unless your hard drive stopped working or something.

[ForbiddenX]

Reformatting doesn't really mess up the hard drive. It's just doing what it would've been doing anyways, reading and writing. It'll mess up your paths say if you partitioned the drive and have programs installed on different partitions or files all over the place.

I used to try to reformat at least once a year before.

Now I've only had to reformat when I messed up my Visual Studios installation and the files wouldn't delete but I couldn't reinstall them because the files already existed. Also messed up SQL databases that I never used or needed so I decided to just reformat lol.

Reformatting every 6 months can get a bit tedious.

[LiquidTurbo]

About once a year. Wish I could reformat my room too.

[way2quik]

:spin:Once every two years. If I'm lazy I'll format whenever after two years.

[fsy82]

only when i fuck up something on the comp

[twitchyzero]

never unless its a crazy virus that you can't rid of

[woob]

I format if I get a virus or if I feel I have too many programs I never use anymore, such that uninstalling all of them would take longer than formatting. I haven't formatted in over a year (since this PC was built).

[Jmac]

Before I sell it ...

[FerrariEnzo]

used to it often.. now theres many programs out there that helps with defragging everything, reformatting often is useless...

[mb_]

I did it once a year for a few years but I changed to only reformatting when something fucks up really bad

[Cman333]

Well I try not to do it at all unless I can't resolve a reoccuring annoying problem. Usually only when I upgrade I tend to swap parts and hdd's around.

If someone somehow infects my comps with a virus I reformat. If some problem keeps occuring all the time I reformat. Mind you I have a hdd specifically for OS usually. So I don't lose all my data. Just need to reinstall programs which is time consuming, but like 90% of software I use very occassionally so never in a rush to reinstall anyways

[Matlock]

I don't format. I buy new hard drives and use the old one as an archive for old stuff.
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[mrks]

I'm using a SSD that supports trim. If I do a fresh install would it be the same as I first installed windows on it?

Depending on your SSD it might need special erasing software from the manufacturer before formatting.
My Vertex needs to be erased with a program called "sanitary erase" before I create a new partition or else the alignment is off and writing speeds get messed up down the line.


I don't format unless something is broken. I clone my SSD every month. If it fucks up I work off the clone.

[Great68]

As others, I only format when if there's some stupid annoying problem that I can't fix easily otherwise or I want to do a big hardware/configuration change.

[Spoon]

I got friends that are super computer nerds tell me that I should reformat my PC every 6 months or so.

I have an uncle (in-law side) who advertises himself around the family as being great with computers because he does just that. My feeling was quite the opposite. If you don't fuck it up to begin with, why the heck would you need to reformat . . . EVER.

[Noizz]

I used to reformat 2-3 times a year... but like the general consensus here, I only do it if something is eff'd up now.

[dignatas]

reformat??... I haven't turned off my computer in a year :fuckthatshit:

[kwy]

Did once in second year of owning the PC, it was pretty fucked up. It's getting there again.

[!MiKrofT]

Your super computer nerds aren't very super....

I only reinstall if there's a need. So far my only need has been to change the OS or hardware upgrade. I've only reinstalled my PC like once a year at most.

[Culverin]

What are you on? Windows XP?
:heckno:
A decade year old operating system? I hope your "super techy friends" have told you to upgrade if you are.



I since moving to Vista then Win7, I haven't needed to reformat. The computer pretty much operates as it should all the time. I will only reinstall windows now if I'm doing a fresh rebuild or I'm infected (which i'm never).

[Great68]

^ My XP install on my laptop is nearing 6 years of stable operation, so don't blame XP.

[6insomnia9]

Win7 =/= winxp if not better.