How often do you reformat your computer

gambitx28 · 10-11-2008, 09:46 AM

reformat? Never. I have a mac.

mithiral67 · 10-11-2008, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gambitx28

reformat? Never. I have a mac.

so you have pc with a different operating system?

vq352k · 10-11-2008, 06:07 PM

I just bough a new PC which came with 2TBs, 4 proccessors, and 8 gigs of ram the PC is great, but i hate how it has vista.... but someone told me if i downgrade to XP it wont use all 8gigs of ram.. is that true????

Blake · 10-11-2008, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vq352k

but someone told me if i downgrade to XP it wont use all 8gigs of ram.. is that true????

you are correct. 4gb max

MadDog · 10-11-2008, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vq352k

I just bough a new PC which came with 2TBs, 4 proccessors, and 8 gigs of ram the PC is great, but i hate how it has vista.... but someone told me if i downgrade to XP it wont use all 8gigs of ram.. is that true????

You also must be using Vista 64-bit to use all 8 GBs.

Blake · 10-11-2008, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suareezay

Ive had my computer since '05. Its never been re-formatted. Is this bad?

no, it's a matter of personal preference. it's not bad to not reformat, but it's like wiping the slate clean. remember how fast your computer was when you first turned it on? it's like that.

Nyulak · 10-11-2008, 06:37 PM

I only reformat if there is a problem. If you don't add garbage to your PC, it doesn't slow down. I only have Steam and its games, plus Microsoft Money and Kaspersky Security Suite on my PC. It has run like a champ for the past couple of years. My main rig is a Mac, so there's no need to do anything for it. I did update the Mac to Leopard when it was released, but there was no formatting required.

My work PC on the other hand, is a total resource hog. Everytime I power on, it's at least five minutes before I can actually do anything with it. Even then I will have to kill a couple of background processes that are consuming 30 to 50 percent of the CPU doing nothing but wasting time and my patience.

.:bHd:. · 10-11-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithiral67

so you have pc with a different operating system?

When you leave a mac on for a while it starts cleaning out useless junk so it can always run fast. I've had my mac pro for a little less than a year and it has slowed down veryyyyy little. I have a lot of programs and 3 extra 1TB drives filled with video files.

Blake · 10-11-2008, 06:58 PM

i just can't stand macs. i think it's like playing with a speak and spell. child's toy.

SpecC · 10-11-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .:bHd:.

When you leave a mac on for a while it starts cleaning out useless junk so it can always run fast. I've had my mac pro for a little less than a year and it has slowed down veryyyyy little. I have a lot of programs and 3 extra 1TB drives filled with video files.

macs

Quote:

Originally Posted by blakepilot

i just can't stand macs. i think it's like playing with a speak and spell. child's toy.

it's just a different interface for the user... it's not a computer for dummies

oldaccount · 10-11-2008, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blakepilot

no, it's a matter of personal preference. it's not bad to not reformat, but it's like wiping the slate clean. remember how fast your computer was when you first turned it on? it's like that.

aaaaah, so thats the problem. it has been slow lately. its got pretty good specs considering how old it is, so its not horribly slow, but it could be faster.

im going to do some research on re-formatting, but for the most part is it pretty simple to do?

Blake · 10-11-2008, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpecC

it's just a different interface for the user... it's not a computer for dummies

my mother can use it...this is also the same person that didn't know how to turn it on when she first got it. OS for dummies...the jury is still out.

SpecC · 10-11-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blakepilot

my mother can use it...this is also the same person that didn't know how to turn it on when she first got it. OS for dummies...the jury is still out.

so how hard is it to turn on a computer? if you gave her some time with windows, i'm sure they could learn it too. not now, but before she got the mac.

my parents didn't know anything about computers before either, but they can fully operate a vista laptop now. they know very little english too which makes it even easier, right?

macs aren't for dummies. get over it. you can do everything on a mac that you can do on a pc. we can also install windows if we really want to. Yes you can install OS X too, but it's a lot more trouble for you.

Blake · 10-11-2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suareezay

im going to do some research on re-formatting, but for the most part is it pretty simple to do?

it's not too hard. anyone with moderate pc skillz can do it. i recommend doing what i do...keep an external HD (or flash drive if you don't have much) with all your keepables on it that way it's easier.

oldaccount · 10-11-2008, 09:01 PM

^cool. thanks.

radiantm3 · 10-12-2008, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blakepilot

my mother can use it...this is also the same person that didn't know how to turn it on when she first got it. OS for dummies...the jury is still out.

So a good user interface = made for dummies?

OS X is unix-based. It's amazing that they were able to take something like UNIX (freeBSD for the anal types) and cover it up in an interface that makes people think it's for children.

It's like saying BMW's idrive system is for dummies because it only has one button compared to the 50 buttons available on infinitis and acuras. (PS, I don't like BMW's idrive system that much, but was just making a point)

aggie57 · 10-12-2008, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suareezay

Ive had my computer since '05. Its never been re-formatted. Is this bad?

No - this is good. It means you're probably not screwing around with your PC. I never reformat and generally keep PC's and Laptops for 2-3 years.

mithiral67 · 10-12-2008, 03:28 PM

Yea, reformating is a preference thing. I am bad with downloading random things, installing and uninstall. I just like to clear everything out to play it safe.

If its your first time reformating I could be hesitent. I have been building my own computers for 10 years, so used to the process of starting from a fresh harddrive.

One thing you learn quickly from doing often reformats is how you save your important files. I run two hard drives, a small 40gig high speed rapter drive that is for my operating system and only programs go on. Then a second large hard drive 300gig that has all my media and info on. So when i reformat, I copy my favorites over do a quick scan of all my folders to make sure I didnt save something to the wrong drive and go.

To play it safe, I used to actually copy and past the entire small drive onto my big drive, just in case I forgot something, I could go back and look for it. IF after 6 months i didnt need to go find something, I would delete the folder.

For most people it is not that easy as they have all the info mixed and its very hard to take them a part.

nunavut · 10-12-2008, 10:44 PM

bought my ibook G4 in Feb 2005.. still haven't reformatted- upgraded to Leopard and still no format- it keeps on ticking.

Spool · 10-12-2008, 10:50 PM

This reminds me, i need to do my desktop...shit is so slow now, too much porn maybe

mithiral67 · 10-12-2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spool

too much porn maybe

Are you out of your f-ing mind?

Spool · 10-12-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithiral67

Are you out of your f-ing mind?

I have a separate hard drive i can back up the porn....calm down

I just want my computer back in tip top shape, sometimes when i play MKV files it stutters and if i have too many programs running comp just crash

10-11-2008, 09:46 AM	#23
gambitx28 shop smart, shop s-mart 8 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2015 640i GC Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cape Cod, MA iTrader: (0)	reformat? Never. I have a mac.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-11-2008, 06:07 PM	#25
vq352k Private First Class 14 Rep 147 Posts Drives: F10 535xi, e92 335I (Ret.) Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nova iTrader: (0)	I just bough a new PC which came with 2TBs, 4 proccessors, and 8 gigs of ram the PC is great, but i hate how it has vista.... but someone told me if i downgrade to XP it wont use all 8gigs of ram.. is that true????
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-11-2008, 06:37 PM	#29
Nyulak Captain 29 Rep 957 Posts Drives: 2022 X3 M40i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SheffVill, OH iTrader: (4) Garage List 2009 BMW 535xi [10.00]	I only reformat if there is a problem. If you don't add garbage to your PC, it doesn't slow down. I only have Steam and its games, plus Microsoft Money and Kaspersky Security Suite on my PC. It has run like a champ for the past couple of years. My main rig is a Mac, so there's no need to do anything for it. I did update the Mac to Leopard when it was released, but there was no formatting required. My work PC on the other hand, is a total resource hog. Everytime I power on, it's at least five minutes before I can actually do anything with it. Even then I will have to kill a couple of background processes that are consuming 30 to 50 percent of the CPU doing nothing but wasting time and my patience.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-11-2008, 06:58 PM	#31
Blake Banned 754 Rep 4,649 Posts Drives: Chevy Aveo Join Date: May 2008 Location: Parent's Basement iTrader: (7)	i just can't stand macs. i think it's like playing with a speak and spell. child's toy.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-11-2008, 09:01 PM	#37
oldaccount Colonel 162 Rep 2,456 Posts Drives: Car Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (2)	^cool. thanks.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-12-2008, 03:28 PM	#40
mithiral67 That guy 117 Rep 5,740 Posts Drives: 2015 Cayman GTS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (4) Garage List 2015 Porsche Cayman ... [0.00]	Yea, reformating is a preference thing. I am bad with downloading random things, installing and uninstall. I just like to clear everything out to play it safe. If its your first time reformating I could be hesitent. I have been building my own computers for 10 years, so used to the process of starting from a fresh harddrive. One thing you learn quickly from doing often reformats is how you save your important files. I run two hard drives, a small 40gig high speed rapter drive that is for my operating system and only programs go on. Then a second large hard drive 300gig that has all my media and info on. So when i reformat, I copy my favorites over do a quick scan of all my folders to make sure I didnt save something to the wrong drive and go. To play it safe, I used to actually copy and past the entire small drive onto my big drive, just in case I forgot something, I could go back and look for it. IF after 6 months i didnt need to go find something, I would delete the folder. For most people it is not that easy as they have all the info mixed and its very hard to take them a part.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-12-2008, 10:44 PM	#41
nunavut Private First Class 13 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW M3 - SG/FR Join Date: May 2008 Location: Brentwood, TN iTrader: (2)	bought my ibook G4 in Feb 2005.. still haven't reformatted- upgraded to Leopard and still no format- it keeps on ticking. __________________ 08 E92 M3 - Space Gray/Fox Red - H&R Springs - Gintani Race + Gintani Catless XPipe - AA Pulley - AA Filter - aFe Scoops - Arkym Diffuser - Evolve-R Stage 2 Tune - MS Spacers
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-12-2008, 10:50 PM	#42
Spool ****** 558 Rep 6,169 Posts Drives: A few Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro iTrader: (24)	This reminds me, i need to do my desktop...shit is so slow now, too much porn maybe __________________ MKIV 6spd 1000hp Club
	Appreciate 0 Quote