Is a periodic fresh install recommended?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Andromedan
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A

Andromedan

I have always did a fresh reinstall of Windows XP Pro on my computers once
every 6 - 9 months or so. Simply because I find that it is like getting a
new PC every time - faster and fresher! And beats trying to repair errors
that crop up even though I am not a really heavy user!

I don't know where I picked this habit but recently found that some people I
know do the same! The periodicities differ, however. BTW, I have never had a
problem with re-activating the OS on any machine.

Is this a practice more prevalent than I thought?

As for me - I have my slipstreamed SP2 install CD handy alongwith the latest
Autopatcher on a DVD-RW also containing all the device drivers and software
I use with updates. This also contains a list of the system tweaks I use so
these can be recreated. Just these couple of disks, a couple of hours, more
than a couple of cups of coffee and I'm done.

I don't do the reinstalls all at once on my machines - I space them a few
months apart throughout the year.

Live long and prosper. Damn the Vulcans for stealing our line.

Andromedan
 
Andromedan said:
I have always did a fresh reinstall of Windows XP Pro on my
computers once every 6 - 9 months or so. Simply because I find that
it is like getting a new PC every time - faster and fresher! And
beats trying to repair errors that crop up even though I am not a
really heavy user!
I don't know where I picked this habit but recently found that some
people I know do the same! The periodicities differ, however. BTW,
I have never had a problem with re-activating the OS on any machine.

Is this a practice more prevalent than I thought?

As for me - I have my slipstreamed SP2 install CD handy alongwith
the latest Autopatcher on a DVD-RW also containing all the device
drivers and software I use with updates. This also contains a list
of the system tweaks I use so these can be recreated. Just these
couple of disks, a couple of hours, more than a couple of cups of
coffee and I'm done.
I don't do the reinstalls all at once on my machines - I space them
a few months apart throughout the year.
Click to expand...

No need.

Proper maintenance and your machine can run pretty much indefinitely.
Having said that - I do occasionally rebuild my machines. It is more of a
mental thing than a necessity.
I am, in fact, considering the reinstallation of one I originally installed
in 2002.
 
Andromedan said:
I have always did a fresh reinstall of Windows XP Pro on my computers
once every 6 - 9 months or so. Simply because I find that it is like
getting a new PC every time - faster and fresher! And beats trying to
repair errors that crop up even though I am not a really heavy user!

I don't know where I picked this habit but recently found that some
people I know do the same! The periodicities differ, however. BTW, I
have never had a problem with re-activating the OS on any machine.

Is this a practice more prevalent than I thought?

As for me - I have my slipstreamed SP2 install CD handy alongwith the
latest Autopatcher on a DVD-RW also containing all the device drivers
and software I use with updates. This also contains a list of the
system tweaks I use so these can be recreated. Just these couple of
disks, a couple of hours, more than a couple of cups of coffee and
I'm done.
I don't do the reinstalls all at once on my machines - I space them a
few months apart throughout the year.

Live long and prosper. Damn the Vulcans for stealing our line.

Andromedan
Click to expand...

I reinstall on my laptop about every 9 - 12 months. I use an image that I
made when it was fairly new after I set it up the way I liked. No
re-activation necessary. I also do reinstalls using images on other machines
at home and work occasionally, for the same reasons you do.
 
Yep! It sure beats a full reinstall, doesn't it. I have been doing this
since about 1995.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
I have yet to do a full re-install on my XP. However, since reading a lot of
postings where people get a lot of errors after installing Service Packs, I am
beginning to think that it might be better in re-installing XP after
slipstreaming the newly available Service Pack. I might consider this for
Service Pack 3.
 
My response at the bottom:

RA said:
I reinstall on my laptop about every 9 - 12 months. I use an image that I
made when it was fairly new after I set it up the way I liked. No
re-activation necessary. I also do reinstalls using images on other
machines at home and work occasionally, for the same reasons you do.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the response and the great idea!

I do a full Acronis back-up of my systems every week. This time when I do a
fresh install I will store the image of the system (for each machine) after
the set up is completed and use it in subsequent installs. That way I would
only have to do the updates.

You are a genius! And so creative!

Regards and thanks again very very much.

Live long and prosper. Damn the Vulcans for stealing our line.

Andromedan
 
Per Andromedan:
Is this a practice more prevalent than I thought?
Click to expand...

I have a 14-year-old banging on both of my PCs for a couple hours every day.

Accordingly, I find the ability to refresh the system essential.

I use TeraByte's DOS "Image" utility to create an image to a removable hard
drive right after my initial system build.

Then, every time I install something, make a note in a little hardcopy log that
I keep. Every so often, I burn another image. System gets flaky, I just drop
back an image or two... or three....

For anything earlier than the latest image, I've got the notes to bring it up to
date - which I do immediately and then burn yet another image.
 
Andromedan said:
I have always did a fresh reinstall of Windows XP Pro on my computers
once every 6 - 9 months or so. Simply because I find that it is like
getting a new PC every time - faster and fresher! And beats trying to
repair errors that crop up even though I am not a really heavy user!

I don't know where I picked this habit but recently found that some
people I know do the same! The periodicities differ, however. BTW, I
have never had a problem with re-activating the OS on any machine.

Is this a practice more prevalent than I thought?

As for me - I have my slipstreamed SP2 install CD handy alongwith the
latest Autopatcher on a DVD-RW also containing all the device drivers
and software I use with updates. This also contains a list of the
system tweaks I use so these can be recreated. Just these couple of
disks, a couple of hours, more than a couple of cups of coffee and
I'm done.
I don't do the reinstalls all at once on my machines - I space them a
few months apart throughout the year.

Live long and prosper. Damn the Vulcans for stealing our line.

Andromedan
Click to expand...

I do it periodically too, but mostly to just keep my fingers in the pie so
to speak, and have the experience fresh. It makes for a higher degree of
confidence if/when it ever becomes a necessity.
It's quicker nowadays because I use imaging software, but same
difference.

Pop`
 
Andromedan said:
I have always did a fresh reinstall of Windows XP Pro on my computers once
every 6 - 9 months or so. Simply because I find that it is like getting a
new PC every time - faster and fresher! And beats trying to repair errors
that crop up even though I am not a really heavy user!
Click to expand...

You must not have any programs/settings operational on your computer
that would make such an operation a HUGE hassle.

For the record: I've been running XP since DAY ONE, and I've never
found the need to do anything more than a system restore when I've had
problems.

I just built a new computer and cloned my old HD to the one that would
be used on the new machine. NO PROBLEM.

i.e., there was no need to do a fresh/clean install at all.
 
Andromedan said:
I have always did a fresh reinstall of Windows XP Pro on my computers once
every 6 - 9 months or so. Simply because I find that it is like getting a
new PC every time - faster and fresher! And beats trying to repair errors
that crop up even though I am not a really heavy user!

I don't know where I picked this habit but recently found that some people I
know do the same! The periodicities differ, however. BTW, I have never had a
problem with re-activating the OS on any machine.

Is this a practice more prevalent than I thought?
Click to expand...


Not among experienced computer users, serious hobbyists, and skilled
technicians, anyway. The "need" for a periodic reinstallation is a
result of poor computering and maintenance habits. My machines get
clean installations only when a new OS comes out that cannot upgrade the
existing OS.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
Bruce Chambers said:
Not among experienced computer users, serious hobbyists, and skilled
technicians, anyway. The "need" for a periodic reinstallation is a result
of poor computering and maintenance habits. My machines get clean
installations only when a new OS comes out that cannot upgrade the
existing OS.
Click to expand...
What arrogance! You have no idea what perfectly competent, experienced,
technical people sometimes deliberately do with their machines that might
make them need a rebuild.
Go ahead and keep patting yourself on the back; apparently you need the
attention.
 
auntie said:
What arrogance! You have no idea what perfectly competent, experienced,
technical people sometimes deliberately do with their machines that might
make them need a rebuild.
Go ahead and keep patting yourself on the back; apparently you need the
attention.
Click to expand...

Humm, readily apparent that you haven't heard of imaging. You need to
get out more.
 
Bob I said:
Humm, readily apparent that you haven't heard of imaging. You need to get
out more.
Click to expand...

Humm, I am very aware of imaging and it is readily apparent that you haven't
read the whole conversation.
 
auntie said:
Humm, I am very aware of imaging and it is readily apparent that you haven't
read the whole conversation.
Click to expand...

Only what made it to the MSnews server.
Cheers.
 
auntie m said:
What arrogance! You have no idea what perfectly competent, experienced,
technical people sometimes deliberately do with their machines that might
make them need a rebuild. Go ahead and keep patting yourself on the back;
apparently you need the attention.
Click to expand...

Bruce wasn't being arrogant, he was speaking the truth. If you're
relatively familiar with or never use Windows, you can probably go quite a
long time without reinstalling Windows. Inexperienced users that don't
know better than to always run as Administrator (or an account with
Administrator access) or people who think they know what they're doing but
don't usually need to reinstall regularly.
 
Andromedan said:
I have always did a fresh reinstall of Windows XP Pro on my computers once
every 6 - 9 months or so. Simply because I find that it is like getting a
new PC every time - faster and fresher! And beats trying to repair errors
that crop up even though I am not a really heavy user!
[snip]

Is this a practice more prevalent than I thought?
Click to expand...

I doubt it.

I've been an XP user since it was first released, and I've not done a
fresh install since maybe 01/01/02
 
auntie said:
What arrogance! You have no idea what perfectly competent, experienced,
technical people sometimes deliberately do with their machines that might
make them need a rebuild.
Go ahead and keep patting yourself on the back; apparently you need the
attention.
Click to expand...

How experienced technicians might deliberately stress or otherwise
"abuse" their test machines has absolutely no bearing upon how properly
maintained, used-daily, production systems behave.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
Uncle said:
Andromedan said:
I have always did a fresh reinstall of Windows XP Pro on my computers once
every 6 - 9 months or so. Simply because I find that it is like getting a
new PC every time - faster and fresher! And beats trying to repair errors
that crop up even though I am not a really heavy user!
[snip]

Is this a practice more prevalent than I thought?
Click to expand...

I doubt it.

I've been an XP user since it was first released, and I've not done a
fresh install since maybe 01/01/02
Click to expand...

Ummm. Question. Is anybody here in IT?
There seems to be a theory and practice disconnect in the last 18 posts
I've read...
True, many speed issues stem from hard drive issues, but in reality,
software corruption is much more of a problem.

Badly desingned uninstallers fail to remove broken startup shorcuts and
registry entries...
Failed system updates spawn more failed system updates... We'll just
blame it on a inopportune power failure for now, MS.
Locked registry hives create never-ending circles of conflict.
A repair of VS2005 manages to cripple IIS, somehow.
Outlook starts sporadically refusing Exchange.
When you are manually maintaining 80+ systems, reinstallation is often
a lot quicker than debugging some arcane bug. Even if it takes 8 hours.
(Well, 18, for my system).

True - A system, regularly updated, with nothing but XP can last
indefinitiely. But those don't exist. You need a iso-burning
application. And a DVD-playing application that supports FF & RW. And
Acrobat. And a decent FTP client. And a decent SCP/SSH client. And a
space usage graph like WinDirStat. And a photo management app like
Picasa. And a patch for the lousy file transfer system, like SuperCopy
http://www.codeplex.com/Wiki/View.aspx?ProjectName=SuperCopy
And Norton Anti-virus, corporate edition. And a dozen other
business-critical apps, some of which are much less kind toward your
sanity and computer.

After switching to firefox at my corporation, the average life of a
installation of XP doubled.
Even after staying away from IE, startup and response times still
slowly increase over time. After watching the statistics, I've actually
come to the conclusing that the duration of the life of an installation
is inversely proportional to the amount that it is used and the variety
of software that is installed.
I'm one of those unlucky few who require VS2005, Adobe CS2, Macromedia
Studio, OpenOffice, MS Office, and 10 GB of other applications. So, for
me, I have to re-install every year.
Believe it or not, I am a minimalist when it comes to installing
software... Installing yet another app feels like pulling a tooth. I've
seen the charts of which programs affect startup & response times the
most, and every time I have to do a special project I want to scream.

I suspect that drivers are actually a very large part of the problem...
I know some printer drivers that are responsible for adding 10sec to
startup, and some sound drivers that make the system act like molasses.


Oh, and just in case someone reading this has opted to use a
synchronous network operation in their code in lieu of an asynchronous
one... Be very afraid... Your sins will haunt you, they will hunt you
down and make you miserable... Death threats are only the beginning.

Ok, </vent>

Whew, that felt good!
 
Quajo said:
Ummm. Question. Is anybody here in IT?
Click to expand...


Certainly. I speak from years of experience supporting WinNT, Win2K,
and WinXP on a multitude of differing hardware configurations (hundreds
of machines) in corporate and government environments. Fresh
installations are almost never really necessary, but are sometimes
performed (via restored images) to save time and get the user back to
work more quickly (20 minutes to restore an image vs. an hour of
troubleshooting and repair when time is money?).




--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
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