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Windows XP: Reasons behind reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows OS?
- 8/21/09 2:39 PM
Periodic reinstalls are to remove unneeded or suspect files.
by BigGuns149 - 8/15/09 1:14 PM In reply to: Reasons behind reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The historical rationale for periodic Windows reinstalls is that over time many Windows boxes will add sometimes gigabytes worth of temporary files that are never deleted or orphaned files from poor designed uninstall programs. As a hard drive becomes more and more full overall disk performance declines. Another argument for periodic reinstalls is that over time thanks to bad uninstallation programs the Windows registry would become bloated from irrelevant entries that slowed performance. Due to larger/faster HDDs the effect of a few GBs of excess temp or orphan files isn't quite what it used to be like in the days when many people were constantly struggling to not run out of HDD space. Even then the build in disk cleanup tool gets rid of most common temp files and many freeware apps can clean up temp folders for other popular applications.
Nevertheless, reinstalling Windows can still slightly improve performance/reliability/secure. Some bad installers sometimes don't remove all of their components and leave some orphaned services reduce performance/reliability running. While there are registry cleaners I have often found that they sometimes cause more harm than good and those that don't cause any issues often largely only remove relatively benign registry entries(eg. recently typed URLs, recently opened files, etc.).
Another issue is security. Merely because your AV and anti-spyware app says there isn't any malicious software on your machine doesn't mean that is the case. Reinstalling the OS from a trusted source will wipe out hidden security threats although one has to remember to reapply any patches that came out after your OS media was released. Furthermore, in many cases it takes less time to reinstall Windows than it takes for your anti-spyware app to scan the HDD.
A fresh reinstall often will slightly improve performance, but I would say that the improvements aren't typically dramatic. Unless performance has dramatically declined I won't suggest to reinstall for performance reasons alone. In some cases if reliability has declined doing a reinstall will remove any conflicts that are causing BSODs, but there are some non-software issues(overheating, bad memory, failing motherboard, etc.) that might be causing the issue so doing a reinstall isn't always a cure all.
Why a clean install
by Sporati - 8/15/09 1:31 PM In reply to: Reasons behind reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Why reformat and clean install?
Occassionally you'll run into issues where a fix doesn't seem to work. You can literally spend days trying to track down where what went wrong, why what you were doing didn't work. It can become frustrating to the point you want to just chuck the whole pc out the window. Depending on your system errors it can just be faster and easier to reinstall windows to fix the issue. Boot sector errors, data allocation tables corruption, bad sectors on the hard drive and problems with the registry are examples. For someone that doesn't know what they are doing it is easier to just start from scratch as sometimes in trying to fix it, you make things worse.
By reformatting in essence you are wiping everything off the disk and resetting the disk to be written to. In acutality if you want a "clean" disk you need to reformat it, from what I've heard, 7 times before all the data is removed, but thats not really the question here. Once should suffice to remove any issues you are having, and a fresh install will give you a clean registry to work with. One issue with windows is that the registry tends to get cluttered with garbage entries from adding and removing programs. The fresh install with give you a clean slate with which to work and you might actually see improvements in the speed at which the OS processes information.
Doing this regularly is not going to harm your pc, and neither is it necessary. As a MMO player, doing this can mean you'll be out of the game for a day normally if not more. On line game updates can take up to 14 hours, give or take, depending on how much new data has to be downloaded. For a person with good internet bandwidth, your windows updates and such should go pretty quickly. However if you have dial up service, this can be a pain. I remember dial up download of IE6 taking over 4 hours, and I had to do it twice because of an issue with signal loss. If you do want to do this, just make sure you back up your critical documents to a disk or thumb drive.
Apologies
by geofbrewer - 8/15/09 1:53 PM In reply to: Reasons behind reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Stephanie L:
I've all ready posted a response, this however is a response to the many responses previously posted.
FAT was a down and dirty way of accessing information. Great for floppies and 10 MB HDD. NTFS was better than FAT. Data is placed on the hard drive in a manner to achieve reliability and validity in retrieval. The file management schema of Windows and Linux are not that different.
The Registry is a far cry better than the INI files. Remember System.INI and WIN.INI?
Fle systems
by rbsjrx - 8/15/09 2:39 PM In reply to: Apologies by geofbrewer"The file management schema of Windows and Linux are not that different."
Actually, they're quite dissimilar. For the purposes of this discussion, the currently most popular Linux file system, ext3, is significantly better in that it's a journaling file system. That simply means that it keeps a journal of every change made. To appreciate that, simply pull the plug while writing data to the HDD. When you turn the Windows machine back on, you'll have a major problem -and especially so if you're running NTFS which is notoriously hard to repair (FAT may be slow, but it's easy to fix). In contrast, when you turn on the Linux machine, it sill simply come back up. Some data may be lost, but the file won't be corrupted. It's amazing of what a decade and a half of progress can do (NTFS dates to 1993).
This is all possible because POSIX compliant OS's, e.g. Linux & OS X, support installable file systems. And since both are built on open standards, there is never a shortage of new file systems to improve on what already exists. As we speak, ext3 is about to give way to ext4, with others such as BTRFS & NILFS available.
The sad thing is that it's not all that difficult to write installable file systems for Windows. I regularly install an ext3 file system interface on my dual boot Windows machines so that the Windows side can share files with the Linux side. For its part, Linux normally ships with both FAT and NTFS file systems available.
Reinstalling Windows
by SolarStormTrooper - 8/15/09 2:11 PM In reply to: Reasons behind reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Eventually after months or years of installing and reinstalling programs and games, not to mention malware, corrupt programs, and bad update installs, the registry can eventually become corrupted beyond repair. In that situation the best solution is usually to wipe the slate clean. I always keep a collection of all my favorite updated programs on a separate storage device.
Re-installing windows cures the problem Why.....
by jrap30 - 8/15/09 2:23 PM In reply to: Reasons behind reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Dear Stephanie;
I am surprise you cannnot deduce this.....it is an easy answer. Re-installation of Windows deletes all problems with improper SW installtions; Software conflicts; bloated or corrupt regitery; corrupt files; master book record, old drivers and of course and a full or fragmented harddrive.....so, in essence, you have gone back to square one, a rebirth of your PC......just as if you did something wrong, you wish only if you could turn back the clock...only if you can get a do-over. It is that simple.
Due to how complex Software is and the interactions between different SW applications, between the SW and OS and between the SW, OS and the hardware.....there is a good chance you will never know what is causing the problem or due to the resilence of Windows can only temporarily fix. So if you can not fix the problem after so many tries...then do a fresh install.
This is NOT a feature of Windows or a standard operating procedure but I will tell you after so many years.....2, 3 or more years..if I can not fix a problem, including a virus that will not die...a fresh install, makes my machine run like NEW. And at the same time, forcing you to get applications, and other stuff you no longer need off your harddrive.
Just plain wrong
by rbsjrx - 8/15/09 4:02 PM In reply to: Re-installing windows cures the problem Why..... by jrap30"Re-installation of Windows deletes all problems with improper SW installations; Software conflicts; bloated or corrupt registry; corrupt files; master book record, old drivers and of course and a full or fragmented hard drive.....so, in essence, you have gone back to square one, a rebirth of your PC......just as if you did something wrong, you wish only if you could turn back the clock...only if you can get a do-over. It is that simple."
Simple, yes. Correct, no. But thanks for helping make my point anyway. The point being that without a registry and without disk fragmentation, the problem as we know it wouldn't exist.
"Due to how complex Software is and the interactions between different SW applications, between the SW and OS and between the SW, OS and the hardware.....there is a good chance you will never know what is causing the problem or due to the resilience of Windows can only temporarily fix. So if you can not fix the problem after so many tries...then do a fresh install."
You just keep on helping me make my point! Yes, modern software is complex, but if the system were smart enough to recognize and automatically resolve all the interdependencies, the problem wouldn't exit. Also imagine that any time you updated software, all the dependencies were reexamined and resolved.
"This is NOT a feature of Windows or a standard operating procedure..."
OK, now you're just being silly (and shouting with your Caps Lock doesn't change it). Linux (much of this also applies to Mac OS X as well) doesn't use a registry and isn't subject to disk fragmentation due to the design of its file systems. Linux package managers make it impossible to install software without resolving all dependencies. When updating packages, all revised dependencies are also checked and resolved. So, explain to us all, please, how this could <u>not</u> be a Windows problem? I use my Linux systems just as heavily as my Windows systems, yet my Linux downtime is essentially zero.
If you restricted your comments to Windows, I might agree with them, but when you make blanket statements that assume that every other OS shares Windows' weaknesses, you expose your unfamiliarity with the larger world outside of Microsoft.
windows problema
by xpdeg - 8/15/09 8:11 PM In reply to: Just plain wrong by rbsjrxGood!I also wonder why the government has no come up with a software user's rights act because I believe we got the right to demand better software from a very expensive company.
What do you think?
registry bloat
by cahotek - 8/15/09 2:37 PM In reply to: Reasons behind reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I find each new version of windows is more complicated then the previous version, they give me programs I don't need or want and I run into problems locating and deleting the unwanteds. Many of these unwanted or unnecessary programs run in spite of my efforts, they collect registry entries from updates and additional software that attaches itself to them. So a couple of times a year I reformat my hard drive and start over. I am getting better at finding the bloat problems but I never quite can find all of them... I think this problem is why many people format and reload every now and then.
Creeping Crud
by tagger1948 - 8/15/09 2:47 PM In reply to: Reasons behind reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
"Creeping Crud" is a greater or lesser problem with every OS I've worked with over the past 40 years. Registry entries and directories hang in there from software that isn't even on the system any more. Tables get overwritten and bits and pieces of old code get left behind. As time passes, your OS gets clogged up like an old water pipe or a fast food junkie's arteries. The system runs slower, gets confused and maybe even crashes.
While it's true that there are a plethora of programs out there that claim to clean up your registry, organize the guts of the OS and make your whites whiter, I do not recommend fooling with them unless you understand exactly what you're doing and can undo what they have done in the event things get worse.
Back in DOS/Windows 3.x days, life was simple and re-installations could be done in an hour or so. My last clean install of XP took over two days, what with the apps, updates and everything else that pops up. Still I do it every year, so why? Because, barring hardware problems, the system runs faster, cleaner and it's just nicer to use. For about a year.
The re-installation can be sped up by making an image of the drive after you've got everything the way you want it. There are quite a few products out there that will do that for you. The discs you end up with are similar to the re-installation discs supplied with new computers by the manufacturers.
Windows gets slower over time...
by jainbhawna12 - 8/15/09 2:58 PM In reply to: Reasons behind reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Overtime, Windows usually gets gloated up and slows down. There may be remnants of old bad drivers that are not needed. There may be malware on the system or remnants of cleaned up malware. When you reinstall, your system will probably be somewhat faster than before, even once you reinstall everything, such as antivirus and drivers and programs.
You don't have to do it on a regular basis, but if your system seems too slow or is messed up, then it may be time to. I usually do it every 6-14 months. The more installing/uninstalling you do, the more likely your system is to become noticeably slower.
But try running Disk Cleanup (to remove junk from the hdd) and Disk Defragmenter, to remove unnecessary file fragmentation (files spread out rather than in one piece) before doing a reformat, unless it's a virus.
The reason is found in an analogy
by hotkiwi - 8/15/09 3:42 PM In reply to: Reasons behind reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The analogy here is: selling your car because the ashtray is full. I do regular maintenance of my harddrive and registry as well as defragmenting and never had to reinstall Windows. I think proposing a complete reinstall is a very painful way to solve a minor sore. We have very good tools to solve the usually mentioned problem.
I don't know if this the right answer but here is my reason.
by rfcasella - 8/15/09 3:53 PM In reply to: Reasons behind reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have a nine year old Compaq EVO and I reformat and reinstall XP Pro every several years. When the machine slows to a crawl and e-mail takes half a night to load the time is right... I use McAfee security and it keeps the machine clean of any viruses, but the machine stills slows down terribly. Sometime I put programs on that I should not have or I'm sorry I installed them. When you delete the unwanted programs everything is not removed especially from the registry. This slows the machine down at start-up since it has to go through all this unrelated junk. Before doing this you have to be sure all your data is backed up and you have all your drivers and programs to reinstall. If you use i-tunes for your MP3 player you'll need a program such as i-pod copy to copy your music back on to your computer. When I restore the operating system it actually saves time cleaning up the machine. You don't have to go through all your registry enteries (I don't know what half of them do anyway, remove the wrong one and your dead in the water). For me I find it the easiest way to get my machine running like new...
Cleans everything up, refreshes the tracks
by davagain - 8/15/09 6:33 PM In reply to: Reasons behind reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows OS? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
There are a couple of reasons for periodically reformatting your drive and re-installing windows.
One reason is that junk, errors, mislinks and fragmented storage build up over time. Re-formatting is like cleaning out a drawer or closet. You get rid of what you don't want and organize what you have left. It is then easier and more efficient to use. Sometimes mistakes creep into the way things are stored on the disk and re-reformatting helps to catch these before they can accumulate into problems that make your drive and computer have more serious performance issues or problems.
In addition, it is related to the way data is stored on a disk. Disks store data in tracks that are magnetic guidelines laid down during the initial formatting process. These tracks fade over time. Re-formatting refreshes the tracks to help keep them from going bad and to keep your drive from mis-reading faded track info or having to strain to read them.
Another bit of advice - use strategy in deciding where to put programs. You are better off making a relatively small, neat partition reserved for your operating system and using the reminder of the disk for your regular programs and data. You should also re-install your most frequently used programs first. This will place them closer to the center of the disk and result in faster disk access time and less wear and tear on the disk arm when these programs are loaded.
xp innovations
by xpdeg - 8/21/09 1:55 PM In reply to: Cleans everything up, refreshes the tracks by davagainI wonder when Microsoft is really going to innovate and automate this process. I guess they like a world where most people have to call IT to make a simple file deletion.
What do you guys think? Don't you think someone should tell Microsoft that?
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