who else hates re-formatting their rig?

I format probably about twice a year, I dont really mind the time it takes for Windows to format and for me to get the programs i use installed again . The biggest problem is the time it takes to re-encrypt my system drive :(
 
Does anyone else Dban their drive before a fresh install? Takes a while but if I'm going to the trouble of starting fresh I like to make sure it is definitely is.
 
Devrij said:
I definitely need to reinstall. My OS has gotten so fat and bloated, but the thought of reinstalling everything just puts me off. That and the fact my oem win7 can't take another reactivation. Roll on win8. I'll do it then.
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Back up your current activation then, there are tools out there to do this (not a dodgy activation hack, just backs up and then restores activation related files).
 
GTAMADDOG said:
The only part I hate about re-formatting is losing all of my Steam games and needing to download them all the ones I want again. That's the part that takes ages. Installing Windows again is pretty much automatic so I just go and do other things and check back on the install every so often.

I don't really have a schedule of when I re-format. I just suddenly think "Sod it, I'll re-format" when I can be bothered.
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Put steam on a separate HDD? :confused:
 
I used to do it religiously every 6 months back in the days of XP. Got lazy now and i've not done on in about a year and a half though i'm due. :(
 
XP is fine for me, I used to format a lot when benching.

I use Win7 at work and none of the features I would consider as essential so I am happy at home on my XP machines....

I dont like Win7 enough to splash out for 3 licences..... yet :)
 
I use Acronis backed upto another drive which i then unplug when not in use. Doing it the hard way can take all day if you have a lot of games and software on there.
 
I enjoy formatting, only takes an hour or so to get drivers and stuff back on and after 6 months uptime you'd be amazed just how much quicker it feels.
 
Windows 8 makes this stuff easier..

Restore functions
The Developer Preview comes with two new recovery functions. Namely, Refresh and Reset, which both make a complete restore easier than a re-installation. The former keeps all the settings and files of the user intact and only reverses all changes to Windows files to its original state while removing all installed programs and apps. The latter deletes all files and effectively re-installs Windows, but without any additional user input such as agreeing to license agreements or selecting a hard disk required. After a reset completes, the user will be asked for the product key and will then proceed to account creation.
 
I need to reinstall my OS on my SSD as I am running of a MArvel port which dispite saying sata6, is only providing sata3 speeds.

And I can't just hot swap to an Intel port as apparently some crucial driver thing is on the SSD and it hangs a couple seconds into windows :(
 
Just had to install windows again last night....total FAIL mistake by me, went to format my external drive and managed to half wreck my c drive before I realised :/

Figured a fresh install was needed as opposed to a repair job
 
Had to reinstall a laptop last night for someone and at the moment things are look shaky.

Stuck the HP OS disk in and set the boot to CDRom, got to the Completing Install section and the progress bar just stalls, left it going for a while and still no movement.

Restarted and tried again still the same, stalls on the same section, had a look on the net and suggestions are to turn of AHIC, did that and the CD Drive starts to act funny. Gave up and started trying again this morning, now when starting up it just skips the the CD Drive in the Boot order and jumps straight to the HD.

I've changed to boot order back and still the same, looks like the D Drive has gone **** up.

Going to try a USB install next............ to be continued........
 
I hate reinstalling Windows too. I do use Norton Ghost sometime, although it's generally best when the hardware profile is the same as last install. If not, then you have to mess around with drivers after the re-image.
 
I have mine down to a T

On my last install once I installed all my programs, all the windows updates etc I cloned the hdd so next time I simply have to use this saves so much time
 
Lunawolfy said:
I need to reinstall my OS on my SSD as I am running of a MArvel port which dispite saying sata6, is only providing sata3 speeds.

And I can't just hot swap to an Intel port as apparently some crucial driver thing is on the SSD and it hangs a couple seconds into windows :(
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SATA 6 doesn't exist. SATA 3 is 6Gb/s.
 
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