Clean Re-Installs

[Pablo 54]

Does anyone else do a complete clean re-install of their OS ever so often? I usually go about once per year.

[Dragon]

I do, every six months, if everything goes right. if not then it gets done right then and there.

[James86]

I usually go 6 to 9 months depending on how busy I am

[Joshua_Mahr]

Bout every 8 mths for me!

[Blacksmith1]

And everyone I know says i'm crazy for doing reinstalls at every year or so ( every few months on the kids machine). so i'm not the only one that noticed that windows (apparently any version) gets corrupted and screwy after awhile?

[James86]

especially if the kids or wife gets on it

[Leganfuh]

Every couple of years for me.

[Gizmo-guy]

Between 6 months to a year for me. Depends on how messed up Windows gets. I now run a vertual machine of my OS just to test out new software to keep Windows from getting so buggy.

[swmeek]

I should as it's been awhile.

[Dragon]

And everyone I know says i'm crazy for doing reinstalls at every year or so ( every few months on the kids machine). so i'm not the only one that noticed that windows (apparently any version) gets corrupted and screwy after awhile?

definitely know that feeling, people give me wired looks when i tell them every six months or so they need to redo the OS. My roommate is purposely violating that rule and gone for 2 years with out a fresh install on his machine. so if it goes down or gets all kinds of screwy he is on his own, and he will have to figure it out all by himself... because he refused to do it when i told him to.

[Blacksmith1]

the fewer the apps, and the more limited your on-line cruising around with IE at least, the longer it lasts before crapping out. I personally think it's a combination of windows files getting corrupted, and the registry getting gang raped by the software designers not being careful enough and/or not doing their un-installers properly.

[Pablo 54]

Well, your responses make me feel better. I usually go about 12 months but was hoping to go longer this time. When I set up my build this past Christmas, I put the OS and three apps on the main drive, the rest of the apps on a second and all of my work on a third. Over the past week or two, I have been getting some wierd shutdown issues, corrupted video drivers and some USB3 connection errors. 0 issues for 6 months until now.

Downside is, my Win7 copy is an upgrade so I might end up having to call Microsoft to get a new code.

[Blacksmith1]

what? they give you a crap OS that needs to be reloaded, and then give you crap when you have to reload it?

[Pablo 54]

They did when I put a new SSD in my HTPC. I originally had Vista 64 on it then upgraded to Win7. Since the drive was "clean" it would not let me use my upgrade code so I had to call India to get it changed.

[Blacksmith1]

that sucks. so they don't offer a way to put your media in as proof? I was gonna look into the upgrade for mine. but since the only way is to let it scrub XP and apparently your can't do clean installs the screw it, I'll save up the extra for the whole version. I need a decent 64 bit anyway.

[Pablo 54]

Well, the interesting thing is when I first installed all of my Win7 upgrade copies, every HDD or SSD was new and clean and I didn't have a problem. It seems to be only an issue with the second re-install on those same machines.

[James86]

Well that's good at least ya didn't have to call India

[GIBSON]

Well, the interesting thing is when I first installed all of my Win7 upgrade copies, every HDD or SSD was new and clean and I didn't have a problem. It seems to be only an issue with the second re-install on those same machines.

Maybe they think your copy might be pirated when you're re-installing it more than they seem fit? (e.g. more than twice in 3 years or so.. Though I thought they used some sort of hardware key for that?
Reminds me of stories where people changing their motherboard couldn't reinstall windows as their copy was 'attached' to the old motherboard according to their one copy per physical system philosophy..)

Going off-topic here, but I've always found the idea of an OS upgrade strange.. Giving something so fundamental 'an upgrade' sounds like lots of trouble ahead. Remembering how a simple service pack could ruin an OS..

[Blacksmith1]

Well it's apparently that season, I'm about to do mine again. I'm switching out to Xp 64 bit again. I know it has problems but with these vid cards I'm down to 2GB of system memory. I want my other 2 gb working for me. I know some people say you won't see the difference but I get alot more system stalls now than I used to before I around 2 gb of video mem with those cards... installing all the apps after is gonna suck.

[ibdabloke]

I try to keep an image of an OS only install plus patches/fixes on hand. I use it on a re-install (around a year or so), add any patches since it was created and then make a new image for the next time. Then finish with installing my apps and such to the hard drive and start the cycle all over.

[Blacksmith1]

If I had a drive big enough laying around. I'd do a complete back up right now. with my "first to load" apps and games installed with drivers and all. that way the "work" part of it would be done. i gotta say tho. this was the fastest load and update I ever did on windows. i guess doubling my internet speed payed off.

[PP Mguire]

Every few weeks for me. I'm either doing alot of hardware swapping or just feel like formatting to clean everything up.

[rrplay]

I usually re-install Windows about 8-9 months , it just seems to run a bit better.And as a bonus I get rid of a lot of Cr^p I no longer need & important data back-up. That would be the main reasons for te re-install cycle.When I do a lot of general surfing or on-line stuff I prefer to use a Linux system that depends on what I'm doing

[Gizmo-guy]

I just did a clean install of Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit on the 1st of this month. I was running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit, but found out it was an illegal copy when Service Pack 1 came out, I purchased it from an on-line auction house! I was being lazy on re-installing!

[PP Mguire]

I just did a clean install of Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit on the 1st of this month. I was running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit, but found out it was an illegal copy when Service Pack 1 came out, I purchased it from an on-line auction house! I was being lazy on re-installing!Lol wouldn't matter if it was illegal or not long as you didn't download the malicious software detector. That is specifically made to weed out the pirated copies.

[Gizmo-guy]

Lol wouldn't matter if it was illegal or not long as you didn't download the malicious software detector. That is specifically made to weed out the pirated copies.

My Brother was running a copy he had bought from the same on-line auction house, as soon as he updated to Service Pack 1 he was notified it was an illegal copy. Windows 7 SP1 Will Detect Over 70 Activation Cracks!

[PP Mguire]

My Brother was running a copy he had bought from the same on-line auction house, as soon as he updated to Service Pack 1 he was notified it was an illegal copy. Windows 7 SP1 Will Detect Over 70 Activation Cracks!

I know.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/pp_mguire/iknow.jpg

[Dragon]

I have always broken the back of my OS's I owned. Reason for this is because everytime I install a new component or switch out a major component I do not have to "Re-verify" and then find out that I "Reached the limits of activation" Forcing me to buy another copy of Windows. This happened once with XP, and from that point on I did not allow it to happen. I bought my copies, I should not have to ask for permission to activate it, every time I feel like redoing my computer. I get a virus, I don't spend countless hours trying to get rid of it only to find out my computer is not right I just wipe the HDD and start all over, If I change out a video card it is my right to do so, or a HDD, motherboard, or what ever I choose.

[tates11]

I usually go for a clean reinstall depending on the performance of my PC which would usually go slow for about 6-8 months.

Usually caused by a virus infection =.="

[peti1212]

Virus infections are usually the reasons why I reinstall my system all the time, though I rarely get viruses. I usually reinstall the system as much as I need to depending on what I'm testing, because you always want to have a reliable testing station when it comes to proper reviews. So for those that always wondered, we reinstall our systems quite often just to make sure our systems are clean and there are no performance issues when we test new hardware.