re-formatting computer?

by **Tommy Boy** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 8:23 pm

thnks guys, i want to do it, but am afraid...so I think that I will read up more about it and then maybe ask for your help again...not that you scared me off, but I will just wait a bit.

Cheers!

by **yaDad** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:25 pm

terminology 101

reformat---to completely wipe the drive clean and start from nothing.

reinstall--windows will reinstall over the old install. no data will be lost. all the programs and such will still be there but you are starting new OS so no info on all the old programs will be in the registry. all OS setup and config will be gone. you will have to do this all over again.

reformatting is not the problem. keep the hdd defragged will accomplish the same thing as reformatting. Windowz getting all cluttered up and bogged down is the problem. you dont have to reformat the disk. as for drivers and such....you have high speed connection...drivers are just a few clicks and a d/l away. Win will have drivers for most hardware already...might not utilize all the features but it will work. reinstall of Win= 90 mins...resetup and config of Win= several days, but your machine will boot faster...connect faster...load programs faster...shut down faster...etc. until you have to do this again in 9-12 months.

by **Tommy Boy** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:33 pm

since I do regular defrags and teh such, then what do you recommend that I need? A re-format or a reinstall?

Thanks for the explanation YaDad!

by **yaDad** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:36 pm

not much speed to be gained with a reformat.....

window reinstall if your OS install is over 6 months old=worthwhile

by **Evan** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:16 pm

I reformat about every 6 months for my PC. This way I don't worry too much about any performance loss.

by **shockwave203** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:43 pm

Originally posted by yaDad
not much speed to be gained with a reformat.....

it depends on the user. a lot of the time, they install new drivers over old ones, delete programs without uninstalling, etc. a year or two of all that building up on your system is going to decrease performance big time.

not only will games run faster, but windows will be fast as well. simple things like when it starts up. on a fresh format, it won't be bogged down for the first minute or so, because all the useless junk that loads in the systray is no longer there.

formatting definitely has it's benefits.

re-formatting computer?

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