reformat/reinstall?This normal?

[horndude]

Just curious, usual software problem I hear all the time with windows users, when in doubt reinstall, just how often do you do this?This a normal thing to do?Wouldnt it make more sense to find the problem and fix it?I know the windows registry is complicated, but it does come with fix it type tools.

I cant imagine going thru that all the time, ive got way too much stuff on my systems to go thru that constantly.

 

[Elbatrop1]

It seems that the recommended amount of time for an reinstall is about a year.

I reinstall Windows once a year or a little more often...

There are registry cleaners, but for me, I keep my data pretty well backed up, so a fresh install really isnt that time consuming.

I just install games again as I feel the urge to play them.

I put user files on DVDs, so that I just have to copy them from the My Documents folder on the DVD to the one on the hard drive, and go and have a coffee or something as the files copy.

 

[DragoonKongol]

i would reccomend wiping every once in a while too butu could use partition magic and create another partition and save all your data on the wipe the main one and put your stuff back on or i also use a program called registry mechanic . its not free but it work to perfection. if you use reg mech use it in safe mode to make sure that nothing is left behind.

 

[synergy]

I have mine partitioned so all my files are on D and I just wipe C about once every year. It's a breeze because everything is still there and I don't have to burn DVD's and recopy all my files.