How often do you format your computer

[TelC@t]

On average I format it once a month. Sometimes I get virus, but more than often I get all these unnecessary add ons (such as those you get from yahoo, kazza and ICQ, etc). Besides I have all these trial version stuff (photoshop, games) that expire after a month time or 10 hours usage. So I format my computer often to get rid of things I don't need and to renew trial version softwares

How often do you format you computer?

[Stabwound]

Once a year or less. I don't even have a virus scanner, and I don't think I've ever had a system-crippling virus. I don't download shit from foreign websites or open stupid e-mail attachments.

There have been a few times when I screwed up my computer to the point of it not working at all anymore, and I formatted it to fix that. Most of the time I just do it to get a fresh start again, but even then, it's less than once a year.

There is no need to format your computer just to use trial version software again. By doing that, you are already breaking the terms of service, so you may as well get a crack for it, or set the clock ahead really far when you install it, so when you set the clock back to the regular date afterwards, it thinks you have like 100000 days left. I do find that this tactic doesn't work with some newer software these days, however.

[Desperate]

Very rarely. I bought a new computer last septemer, and I still haven't formated it.

[NaiLed]

Once every couple years. Only done it twice.

Don't think I've ever paid for any software ever. Must have at least 700 quids worth on it atm :x

[Fallen Angel]

Only when it's necessary, which is almost never.
Technically I never format my HD, because when worst comes to worst I just restore my system with a Ghost file containing a fresh Windows XP Pro installation. My current installation has been running smoothly since december 13th 2002 (date of most recent Ghost file).

[RabbitRapist]

i've never formatted, i wouldnt even know how

[Spybreak!]

On average I format it once a month. Sometimes I get virus, but more than often I get all these unnecessary add ons (such as those you get from yahoo, kazza and ICQ, etc). Besides I have all these trial version stuff (photoshop, games) that expire after a month time or 10 hours usage. So I format my computer often to get rid things I don't need and to renew trial version softwares


How often do you format you computer?

I would format mine if it ever seriously gets screwed up, which hasn't happened. It's just a pain to backup everything and then reinstalling everything back again--waste of time and annoying!!
_Just maintain your comp and defrag, cleanup, remove unnecessary files and progs... If you keep your comp on the floor you might want to literally clean it out, the dust and sh!t can lower performance if it gets too dirty inside.




Tel, I recommend getting:
...A spyware prog that deletes the spyware on your comp (Spybot S&D 1.2, or anything else that does the trick)

...An antivirus or virus-blocking program (Norton, PC-Cillin, AVG, even Zone-Alarm)

...A backup program (GoBack is l33t, and there are others)

...Cracks or a S/N to crack adob-- err I mean go to their site and buy the real, more convenient program or game whatever it is you're after.

[TelC@t]

Tel, I recommend getting:

...An antivirus or virus-blocking program (Norton, PC-Cillin, AVG, even Zone-Alarm)

Antivirus software doesn't help with the newest vires. For some reasons my computer has this unique ability to contract those vires 1st ... sometimes several days before the antidote was made available.

I have this email address that I have been using for nearly 7 years, a lot people seem to know this address. There were twice vires were sent to my PC by people who I trusted (they didn't know tho).

[Fallen Angel]

Antivirus software doesn't help with the newest vires. For some reasons my computer has this unique ability to contract those vires 1st ... sometimes several days before the antidote was made available.

I have this email address that I have been using for nearly 7 years, a lot people seem to know this address. There were twice vires were sent to my PC by people who I trusted (they didn't know tho).

PEBCAK

[Dim]

Telcat, your avatar suggests you were just raped.

[Dameon Angell]

my old computer. i had this shitty, shitty E-Machines (the E stands for expendable). I had to "nuke" the computer (as I liked to call it. which was basically re-formatting the computer to the out-of-the-box state) like every 2 weeks. I had a small ass harddrive and I installed too much shit. It then got uberslow and if I uninstalled it stayed slow. So i had to redo it and then start again... lol it was disgusting.

[Stabwound]

I used an E-Machines for a good 4 or 5 years and I only reformatted it once a year or less.

[Mr. Peanuts]

same as stabwound

[Evasive]

Never had to in my life.

[Jerome Scuggs]

never. you see, they have these things called end user license agreements that one reads it lets me find adware that is to be installed.

and then for photoshop, sell your asshole for $500, or visit a warez site