What is the longest . . .

Dom · Mar 26, 2003, 12:00 PM

What is the longest you've ever gone without having to reinstall Windows?

Dom · Mar 26, 2003, 12:05 PM

Longest I've ever went without having to reinstall Windows is six months. I bragged to a friend about it, and the very next day I found myself having to reinstall Windows. Ain't that a b!tch?

merry · Mar 26, 2003, 12:12 PM

Six or more. Actually, I think on one system (the first) it was never reinstalled, something like 2 1/2 years.

But then I'm really lazy.

GOG · Mar 26, 2003, 12:25 PM

My Norton subscription day expires 2003-10-20, this means 5 months

. I have some issues with Windows file protection but I'm too damn lazy to reinstall.

Vampyromaniac · Mar 26, 2003, 12:43 PM

2 years . . . when I first bought my Dell, I didn't re-install until I upgraded the CPU/mobo/powersupply

ToshiroOC · Mar 26, 2003, 07:29 PM

Oddly enough, on the older version of Norton that I use, if I turn back the system clock I can install updates normally even without a valid subscription

~~craig588~~ · Mar 26, 2003, 07:58 PM

I would like to say I have always reformated every 3 months, but when I was younger I didn't own a computer and used my dads and he did all of his billing, taxes, ect... on the computer and didn't want to risk reformatting.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Mar 26, 2003, 08:25 PM

95,98,98se,2000, 6mo/year+ ...... xp every mounth or two mabe sometimes as long as 3-6 mo .....

Linux redhat, mandrake 2 days mabe 3 days max ... than it wont boot Me kills it somehow... (ME hardware is compliant)

Mac OS 8 couple years but it's slower than pondscum

could be tha fact that am I liveing on here ...

MikeDaMan · Mar 27, 2003, 01:11 AM

I'ts probably been around 6 months and I really want to. I'm just way to lazy to back everything up and reinstall software and drivers. I guess I'll hold off until something gets really messed up *knocks on wood*.

toddsmack2k · Mar 27, 2003, 07:08 PM

Been about 8 months now! I really need to prob just to dang lazy.

~~Crash Override~~ · Mar 27, 2003, 08:04 PM

I format once every couple months mostly because i love tweaking and will break things sumtimes

but this time i didnt break anything and still have to do it only after a bout 2 weeks

MSN messenger almost every time i start it starts to install itself then cancels and then starts up

and Windows Messenger no longer even works......it shows that the program is running in taskmgr but it never does show up on my screen

Zardon · Mar 27, 2003, 08:59 PM

there is a bug seen sometimes in the program when it defaults to forced auto boot.

start/run

GPEDIT.msc

/administrative templates/windows components/windows messenger/

do not automatically start windows messenger initially. change to enabled. rather than not configured.

personally I click both that one and the do not allow windows messenger to be run, as I use Trillian pro, but sometimes like the option to run it....... without the complete deinstall.

Chrysalis · Apr 5, 2003, 12:48 AM

I think I managed nearly a year on XP, I tend to only reinstall to fix major issues, I never reinstall just to fix bloatyness otherwise I would be reinstalling every couple of months.

NaumoJR · Apr 5, 2003, 12:59 AM

I'm on my longest run right now with Windows XP Corp.

8 months!

merry · Apr 7, 2003, 11:14 AM

Impressive... 2/3 of the people questioned said they ran happily the MS OS for SIX MONTHS OR MORE

Dom · Apr 7, 2003, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by merry
Impressive... 2/3 of the people questioned said they ran happily the MS OS for SIX MONTHS OR MORE

Yes, I didn't expect that at all, which reflects on the poll questions.

ToshiroOC · Apr 7, 2003, 10:28 PM

I'm still running the same Windows 3.1 on my 386 that I always have... ever since the 386 was new, been the same install...

Dom · Apr 7, 2003, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ToshiroOC
I'm still running the same Windows 3.1 on my 386 that I always have... ever since the 386 was new, been the same install...

Dude.

ToshiroOC · Apr 8, 2003, 12:31 AM

Still works more or less fine... for an ancient 386.

Dom · Apr 8, 2003, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ToshiroOC
Still works more or less fine... for an ancient 386.

You have no other PC?

ToshiroOC · Apr 8, 2003, 12:39 AM

? That's simply the oldest MS OS install I've ever had, definitely not my main PC

Dom · Apr 8, 2003, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ToshiroOC
? That's simply the oldest MS OS install I've ever had, definitely not my main PC

Ah, didn't click at first.

NaumoJR · Apr 8, 2003, 01:25 AM

I think the longer periods of time are directly related to the stabilty of Windows XP.

I mean when I had Win98Se, I would reinstall and do the whole shabang about once a every 2 months for some reason.

HsuGotaQ · Apr 8, 2003, 01:46 AM

Lol... I feel like the only idiot to reformat his HDD every month. I guess this is because I test many applications/games/drivers and generally need a clean OS. Technically, the last time I installed XP was about a year and a half ago. But in theory, I do it every month, with my seven different Ghost XP files.

Rayder · Apr 8, 2003, 01:54 AM

I re-install only when I upgrade, get virussed-out <- a virus is an extrememly rare occurance), add new hardware or to clear "clutter", not just for the heck of it. So, it really depends on how often I upgrade. The money situation being what it is for me (broke-O-matic) it will be awhile before that next upgrade/reinstall.

Besides, my setups always run great (possibly a testament to my great setup and maintenance skills). The only times my system ever crashes is when a program causes a problem or (in the case of my brother's systems), I ignore any maintenance or updating of anything. That's pretty cold, I guess. Especially when you take into consideration that most of my system is compliments of my bro.

But he and I have totally different ideas as to what we use our PC's for, so in many cases, I just let his system's slide.

I never saw any reason to CONSTANTLY re-install Windows when everything still works.

I must have swapped the video drivers 10+ times on this rig and NEVER had a problem. I NEVER had to remove a bunch of registry entries just to make the updated set of video drivers work properly.

I'm currently at about 5 months on this setup, because that's how long ago it was since I last upgraded.

BUT, I would have to say my re-install cycle would probably be about 1 year, just to clear the clutter (old registry entries, dead DLL's, uninstalled program leftovers, undetected spyware crapola, etc.) out of the system. Not because they are causing problems, but to free up some of the wasted disk space.

I picked 6 months in the poll only because it was the highest time cycle to choose from in the poll. But I would have chosen 1 year if that option existed in the poll.

~~Sourcer_2002~~ · Apr 8, 2003, 02:01 AM

Well i reinstalled XP twice this this weekend after i got a some new RAM....once was for some reason it worked fine then i went restart....and then it wouldnt boot...so i formated and installed again....i do that about once to twice every two months

BWX · Apr 8, 2003, 02:10 AM

I installed XP home on my mom's machine that I live 300 miles away from and only go back every few months to do the upkeep on. I installed it about a year ago and it runs great- I have 3 little neices, 2,3,7 yrs old, 2 of which "play" on the machine and their father (my brother in law) who loves clicking on the little purple gator ads. I have delt w/ viruses, spyway,(hotbar), sp1, new hardware(video card, scanner,printer,mouse) -stuff like that, and it is still going strong with maybe 2 lockups that I have heard about in the past year.
I have XP pro that I have had on my machine for 4 months or more and I don't plan to reinstall for a long time. I went about 6 months between reinstalls w/ win 98se. No need for XP- feels better than the day I installed it.

Mar 26, 2003, 12:00 PM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	What is the longest . . . What is the longest you've ever gone without having to reinstall Windows?

Mar 26, 2003, 12:05 PM	Thread Starter #2
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Longest I've ever went without having to reinstall Windows is six months. I bragged to a friend about it, and the very next day I found myself having to reinstall Windows. Ain't that a b!tch? Last edited by Dom; Mar 26, 2003 at 12:15 PM.

Mar 26, 2003, 12:12 PM	#3
merry gargouille Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 962 Rep Power: 0	Six or more. Actually, I think on one system (the first) it was never reinstalled, something like 2 1/2 years. But then I'm really lazy. __________________ There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. ~~Leonard Cohen

Mar 26, 2003, 07:29 PM	#6
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Oddly enough, on the older version of Norton that I use, if I turn back the system clock I can install updates normally even without a valid subscription __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Mar 26, 2003, 08:25 PM	#8
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	95,98,98se,2000, 6mo/year+ ...... xp every mounth or two mabe sometimes as long as 3-6 mo ..... Linux redhat, mandrake 2 days mabe 3 days max ... than it wont boot Me kills it somehow... (ME hardware is compliant) Mac OS 8 couple years but it's slower than pondscum could be tha fact that am I liveing on here ... __________________

Mar 26, 2003, 12:25 PM	#4
GOG Please answer the voices in my head Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 308 Rep Power: 0	My Norton subscription day expires 2003-10-20, this means 5 months . I have some issues with Windows file protection but I'm too damn lazy to reinstall.

Mar 26, 2003, 12:43 PM	#5
Vampyromaniac confutatis maledictis Join Date: May 2002 Location: somewhere dark Posts: 5,974 Rep Power: 77 System Specs	2 years . . . when I first bought my Dell, I didn't re-install until I upgraded the CPU/mobo/powersupply

Mar 26, 2003, 07:58 PM	#7
~~craig588~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: In clothing Posts: 3,510 Rep Power: 0	I would like to say I have always reformated every 3 months, but when I was younger I didn't own a computer and used my dads and he did all of his billing, taxes, ect... on the computer and didn't want to risk reformatting.

Mar 27, 2003, 01:11 AM	#9
MikeDaMan DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 874 Rep Power: 0	I'ts probably been around 6 months and I really want to. I'm just way to lazy to back everything up and reinstall software and drivers. I guess I'll hold off until something gets really messed up knocks on wood. __________________ DFI Lanpart UT 250GB motherboard. 1GB 2X512 Crucial Ballistix PC 3200. AMD Athlon 64 3400+. Retail ATI Radeon X850XT PE AGP

Mar 27, 2003, 07:08 PM	#10
toddsmack2k It Never..... Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,173 Rep Power: 0	Been about 8 months now! I really need to prob just to dang lazy. __________________ [color=blue]*Bleeding From the Inside Pouring Out, The* *DriverHeaven* Spiral, We Shall Never Let Go Of.[/color]

Mar 27, 2003, 08:04 PM	#11
~~Crash Override~~ Banned Join Date: May 2002 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 2,448 Rep Power: 0	I format once every couple months mostly because i love tweaking and will break things sumtimes but this time i didnt break anything and still have to do it only after a bout 2 weeks MSN messenger almost every time i start it starts to install itself then cancels and then starts up and Windows Messenger no longer even works......it shows that the program is running in taskmgr but it never does show up on my screen

Mar 27, 2003, 08:59 PM	#12
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	MSN is typical MS coding....... sucks there is a bug seen sometimes in the program when it defaults to forced auto boot. start/run GPEDIT.msc /administrative templates/windows components/windows messenger/ do not automatically start windows messenger initially. change to enabled. rather than not configured. personally I click both that one and the do not allow windows messenger to be run, as I use Trillian pro, but sometimes like the option to run it....... without the complete deinstall.

Apr 5, 2003, 12:48 AM	#13
Chrysalis DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 33 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	I think I managed nearly a year on XP, I tend to only reinstall to fix major issues, I never reinstall just to fix bloatyness otherwise I would be reinstalling every couple of months.

Apr 5, 2003, 12:59 AM	#14
NaumoJR Paranoid Android Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Planet Telex Posts: 1,029 Rep Power: 0	I'm on my longest run right now with Windows XP Corp. 8 months!

Apr 7, 2003, 11:14 AM	#15
merry gargouille Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 962 Rep Power: 0	Impressive... 2/3 of the people questioned said they ran happily the MS OS for SIX MONTHS OR MORE __________________ There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. ~~Leonard Cohen

Apr 7, 2003, 10:28 PM	#17
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	I'm still running the same Windows 3.1 on my 386 that I always have... ever since the 386 was new, been the same install... __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Apr 8, 2003, 12:31 AM	#19
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Still works more or less fine... for an ancient 386. __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Apr 8, 2003, 12:39 AM	#21
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	? That's simply the oldest MS OS install I've ever had, definitely not my main PC __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Apr 8, 2003, 01:25 AM	#23
NaumoJR Paranoid Android Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Planet Telex Posts: 1,029 Rep Power: 0	I think the longer periods of time are directly related to the stabilty of Windows XP. I mean when I had Win98Se, I would reinstall and do the whole shabang about once a every 2 months for some reason.

Apr 8, 2003, 01:46 AM	#24
HsuGotaQ Hydrogenated Dumbass Join Date: May 2002 Location: Canuckland Posts: 755 Rep Power: 0	Lol... I feel like the only idiot to reformat his HDD every month. I guess this is because I test many applications/games/drivers and generally need a clean OS. Technically, the last time I installed XP was about a year and a half ago. But in theory, I do it every month, with my seven different Ghost XP files.

Apr 8, 2003, 01:54 AM	#25
Rayder Mostly lurking lately.... Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 2,161 Rep Power: 73	I re-install only when I upgrade, get virussed-out <- a virus is an extrememly rare occurance), add new hardware or to clear "clutter", not just for the heck of it. So, it really depends on how often I upgrade. The money situation being what it is for me (broke-O-matic) it will be awhile before that next upgrade/reinstall. Besides, my setups always run great (possibly a testament to my great setup and maintenance skills). The only times my system ever crashes is when a program causes a problem or (in the case of my brother's systems), I ignore any maintenance or updating of anything. That's pretty cold, I guess. Especially when you take into consideration that most of my system is compliments of my bro. But he and I have totally different ideas as to what we use our PC's for, so in many cases, I just let his system's slide. I never saw any reason to CONSTANTLY re-install Windows when everything still works. I must have swapped the video drivers 10+ times on this rig and NEVER had a problem. I NEVER had to remove a bunch of registry entries just to make the updated set of video drivers work properly. I'm currently at about 5 months on this setup, because that's how long ago it was since I last upgraded. BUT, I would have to say my re-install cycle would probably be about 1 year, just to clear the clutter (old registry entries, dead DLL's, uninstalled program leftovers, undetected spyware crapola, etc.) out of the system. Not because they are causing problems, but to free up some of the wasted disk space. I picked 6 months in the poll only because it was the highest time cycle to choose from in the poll. But I would have chosen 1 year if that option existed in the poll.

Apr 8, 2003, 02:01 AM	#26
~~Sourcer_2002~~ BANNED Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Indiana , USA Posts: 2,677 Rep Power: 0	Well i reinstalled XP twice this this weekend after i got a some new RAM....once was for some reason it worked fine then i went restart....and then it wouldnt boot...so i formated and installed again....i do that about once to twice every two months

Apr 8, 2003, 02:10 AM	#27
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	I installed XP home on my mom's machine that I live 300 miles away from and only go back every few months to do the upkeep on. I installed it about a year ago and it runs great- I have 3 little neices, 2,3,7 yrs old, 2 of which "play" on the machine and their father (my brother in law) who loves clicking on the little purple gator ads. I have delt w/ viruses, spyway,(hotbar), sp1, new hardware(video card, scanner,printer,mouse) -stuff like that, and it is still going strong with maybe 2 lockups that I have heard about in the past year. I have XP pro that I have had on my machine for 4 months or more and I don't plan to reinstall for a long time. I went about 6 months between reinstalls w/ win 98se. No need for XP- feels better than the day I installed it. __________________