Pet Peeve: Frequent Formatting

Why do I see so many people talking about how they had to "format the computer to get x to work"? Arent we supposed to be hackers here? (Oops, I used the H word.) personally I've never been forced to reformat my own system. Am I just really good at what I do or seriously lucky or what??? (Extra 2 question marks added for Arans benefit. Sorry no space though.)

How often do you format any given system?

When you get multiple virii and you don't have a very good anti-virus program, formatting is the only option. I find that after I format my comp runs faster. I always accumulate useless crap and virii, so I try to format as often as my dad lets me (he uses this comp too, and he doesn't like to back things up so I only format about once every 2 years).

There was a really dark time in my life when I was running ME when I virtually did it on a average I would say of every 4 months.......man those times were really dark. Part of it was my inexperience but mostly was that ME pretty much sucked. Now I have XP and everything is running smoth. I have a new found respect for Microsoft after XP.

I have XP too, but i have a newfound disrespect for Microsoft. XP sucks my big fat toe.

Originally posted by tim545666
I have XP too, but i have a newfound disrespect for Microsoft. XP sucks my bug fat toe.

Home or Professional? I have Professional.

Home. But the two are essentially the same. XP supports some crap that I don't have the need for. And it also supports .NET, which I could use... Screw microsoft I'll just get a pirated version of Win2K.

>>I find that after I format my comp runs faster. I always accumulate useless crap and virii

Which is why I occasionally go on a rampage of destruction, filling my Recycle Bin to overflowing.

>>back things up

I dont know about the rest of you but I have a 12 Gig HD... Its full. How the heck am I supposed to back everything up? I've got applications for any given task. I've optomized the settings of every one of those applications. I would be living hell to do a full backup. I just back up the important stuff.

>>Home or Professional? I have Professional.

How are you liking it, programming wise? I'm considering upgrading (from 98) as I was loathe to touch ME (or 2000 for that matter).

>>Home. But the two are essentially the same. XP supports some crap that I don't have the need for. And it also supports .NET, which I could use... Screw microsoft I'll just get a pirated version of Win2K.

Actually I hear there's a huge difference performance wise.

>>Home or Professional? I have Professional.

How are you liking it, programming wise? I'm considering upgrading (from 98) as I was loathe to touch ME (or 2000 for that matter).

I like it very much, it's the best OS I've ever used, it's like a camouflaged version of Win2k, just more "prettier" , but besides that, I hear that XP is supposed to be what was promised when Win2k was released, but never "arrived". Blue Screen of Death, haven't seen that in a while in my house. The computer does However Freez at times, but rarely and this I think it's not really the OS fault because it used to do the same kind of weird Freezing with Windows ME at times, I mean freezing where everthing just seems to be paused on the screen, not the usual Windows Freezing, but it only happens with my PC that much as far as I know, because a couple of friends have XP and they tell me it runs good for them. Programming wise....seems to be doing ok with Direct X....I mean Visual C++ seems to do ok. Let's see what happens I've only had it for like 3 to 4 months. It's ok for programming as of right now. There's still some programs that you have download patches for, because XP is fairly new.

I formatted last because a mem chip went bad and my WIN98 stuffed up. That was a year ago.

My Win98 runs continuously for days without problems.

I am considering the move to Win2000 as it is stricter on mem usage in WIN32 API. I am avoiding actually installing XP on anything but a test system for as long as I can. Who needs Win2000 without even the limited security it provides? If I get a RAT / virus then I don't want it to have root access by default.

Then again the unlimited access to raw sockets is enticing.

Have had problems with networks between WinXP and 98 in games and found it slower than Win2000. And had problems with WinXP graphics under GDI. (drew things upside down on one PC only)

There was a really dark time in my life when I was running ME

I remember those days....

Thanks to Linux its all over though I never have to format Linux. ME on the other hand.... every month.

I reformat every once in a while because I make trouble for myself......I am always messing in the registry and altering settings and I just dont look after things as I should....

Keeping my data backed up allows a reinstall to be a pretty effective option on occasion.........And I like the spring clean feeling once in a while

I have had my computer for about 4 years now...and have not had to reformat it even once.

*other Cboard members whisper* he still uses a computer that is over 4 years old??? that thing must be out of date....oh yeah...i agree....it has to be.... *end of whispers*

nope...not out of date at all...396 MB ram, 8 GB hd and a 40 gb hd (upgraded Xmas time), GeForce 2 (upgraded Xmas time), 300 Mhz processor (okay...thats the one thing that does need an upgrade...but barely...i think a 1 GHz would do me well for years to come)

anyways, back on topic...

I have had to format the computer in my room once, because of severe malfunctions (see the thread "A word of wisdom from DavidP" and other related threads)....that computer still wont work...

if anybody can get that comp to work...i will give them like $5000...okay...not really...but it would be nice to get it to work...

I usually reformat when I move to a different OS. I just don't trust upgrading. I've been running Win2K for a while now and I like it very much. I'm still trying to move to Linux or BSD for good but I haven't had any problems with Win2K. I like to run as minimal of a system as possible (with the exception of music files) so I backup my stuff often to CDs. If I ever need it, I can put in the disc. I'm frequently uninstalling programs I haven't used for a while. If I need to use it again I'll reinstall it.

it's amazing how much crap you guys put up with from your operating system...

I've formatted my comp so many times, I practically remember all the steps!!!