How often do you reformat your PC?

Discussion in 'Operating Systems' started by jbscotchman, Feb 4, 2018.

  1. jbscotchman

    jbscotchman Guest

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    Absolutely agree. Anti-virus is like the flu shot. You don't need it, but if you do get it then you have to upgrade every year. As for PC, just stay off shady porn sites and you won't have any problems.
     
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  2. Pyrage

    Pyrage Master Guru

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    I can't stand AV. They are like a virus, constantly taking performance away, or doing stuff like causing connection issues in games or just being annoying in general with false positives.

    If you browse the web safely avoiding porn, shitty sites and torrents, you will never get anything.
     
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  3. jbscotchman

    jbscotchman Guest

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    Exactly! Anti-virus software is nothing but extortion for people who barely know how to use the internet.
     
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  4. pegasus1

    pegasus1 Ancient Guru

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    How when its free.
     

  5. Agent-A01

    Agent-A01 Ancient Guru

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    Nothing is ever free
     
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  6. Chastity

    Chastity Ancient Guru

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    Most ISPs provide AV packages as part of their subscription, so the annual fees should be a non-issue. (Usually Symantec or McAfee)
     
  7. Strijker

    Strijker Active Member

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    When you download windows 10.iso file from microsoft, it should contain the latest big updates I think.
    Anyways I just did a new install from windows 10 (not the latest iso file though) which I had on an USB drive and the updates after went for me very fast.

    With windows 7 and using my original dvd, oh man those updates where HUGE and lasted for hours long!
    Windows 10 goes way way faster for me.. also a fast usb 3.0 stick helps and I'm up in no time.
     
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  8. Oh good to hear you got the format going well. Yeah, sadly I did not download the latest ISO :p. Curious though, when you installed your W10, did you use your W7 cd-key? I used mine after install, and activated it in Windows desktop once install was complete.
     
  9. pegasus1

    pegasus1 Ancient Guru

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    Ive just carried out a fresh install onto a new 1TB Crucial MX500 SSD. Not only did it take almost no time at all, the installation found and loaded the latest drivers for my rig (MSI Z68A-GD80 (B3))
    with the exception of the newest LAN driver. Was very impressed.
     
  10. Strijker

    Strijker Active Member

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    It's a w10 version which I updated from my old windows 7 cd-key (but that was a long time ago).
    I even have switched 2 times my motherboard + cpu (and 1 time a new gpu&memory) and I'm still using that same old key.

    So I just download windows 10.iso file from MS, install W10 from an USB drive without entering a serial number and it just activates no problem (I do sign in with my MS account). So I never type in that key anymore!
     

  11. fry178

    fry178 Ancient Guru

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    Not sure why someone would reinstall anything above vista/7 (regularly).

    once you finished clean install incl drivers, added all updates and software/games you want,
    just do a full image with something like ghost/tru image etc, and done.
    same if there is a big "change" like adding a game, trying something, i do a full image.

    anytime i have an issue, i can restore it in under 10 min, without having to do any "installing".


    @jbscotchman/pyrage
    so you guys leave your house/car unlocked, because there haven't been any break ins in your area? ;)

    there are enough infections etc out there, that have nothing to do with surfing porn sites,
    and especially when ppl have less knowledge about stuff, running an AV program is most of the time better, than nothing.
    (a couple years ago CHIP tested that a pc just connected to the net,
    NOT BEING USED but just sitting "idle", on avg getting infected within 90s).

    and it doesnt need to be upgraded or even cost anything.
    i can register avast for free, just have to live with a pop-up here and there asking me to buy the premium edition.
    and as long as its set to "high" for sensitivity, it prevents most stuff to even get installed in the first place (blocks dl) and i havent had virus/worm/rootkit/malware in the past 10y using it (besides maybe some tracking cookies), nor anyone else where i installed it.
    on idle i have 0% cpu load (balanced profile), so no performance impact either.
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2018
  12. vf

    vf Ancient Guru

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    Even XP Pro didn't need it. I had an XP install for at least 7 years...
     
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  13. Serotonin

    Serotonin Ancient Guru

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    Ironically, I do it far less often these days, now that cds and dvds are a thing of the past and downloading all of your stuff is the norm. Or a back drive, etc. Oh those Xp reinstall's - up till 2am getting my PC back to normal lol. F*ck that. This is one time my cynical ass is appreciating technology. Just on principal I'm going to do a reinstall now.
     
  14. ChoGGi

    ChoGGi New Member

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    There's a couple updates you can manually install beforehand to speed up windows update (well not now of course).

    My copy of 7 is still going strong:
    Original Install Date: 22/9/2012, 2:30:37 AM
    If it lasts I'll probably stick with it till about Jan 14 2020 :)
     
  15. insp1re2600

    insp1re2600 Ancient Guru

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    only when there is an issue or major hardware change.
     
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  16. phatbx133

    phatbx133 Master Guru

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    Write zero's for me if I have issues or bad virus for whatever reasons.
     
  17. HK-1

    HK-1 Master Guru

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    yep same here, good times of beloved Windows XP PRO :)
     
  18. TheDeeGee

    TheDeeGee Ancient Guru

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    I try to cut down on it these days.

    Last time i was forced to because the Creators Update didn't to go flawless, so i downloaded the ISO instead. I skipped 1709 as it's garbage, so i might do a clean one with the 1803 ISO. For now 1703 runs mighty fine and ill stick with it untill it's EOL.
     
  19. nosirrahx

    nosirrahx Master Guru

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    Install twice a year on main system. I build customized images and its just smoother to build an image and start from scratch.

    I wait for the first cumulative update after a new build, integrate everything (updates, drivers...), remove the crap I don't want and install.

    Installing the new image takes about 5 minutes and since drivers and updates are already there it is ready to go from the first boot.
     
  20. D3M1G0D

    D3M1G0D Guest

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    I've stopped using specific AV software. I used to use AVG free but it began to get annoying with the constant pop-ups and offers. I now rely solely on Windows Defender to protect me from malware. I agree that not using any sort of AV is outright stupid (what use is reformatting if a hacker makes off with your sensitive data?)

    As for the topic, I only reformat when necessary - if it ain't broke, don't fix it. No need to put additional strain on the SSD (I prefer not to wear out the write cycles unnecessarily).
     

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