How Often do you

Only when absolutely necessary. I think it's been several years now on my office, home, and home theater PC's. If something gets messed up, I fix it. No sense having to set everything back up again. Pre-Windows 7, I think it was prudent to re-install occasionally, but with the last few releases it doesn't seem as necessary, not to me, anyway.
 
Still running the same install since beta on most machines.
 
My current install originated as a Windows Vista install in 2007 ish, upgraded to Windows 7 and then upgraded to the windows 10 beta and now retail. All same install.

I cloned it from the 140gb Seagate HDD to an SSD just before my windows 10 upgrade.
 
A long time ago with 98, 2000, & XP, I'd reinstall every couple of months. Any longer, and Windows just got slow. I only ran laptops back then, so maybe on a desktop, it wasn't that bad?

Vista, I left it there for a while and that install made it all the way to Windows 8 (I think I did a reinstall around 8.1). That's also around when I got my first desktop (hello HP Slimline thread on [H]!).

Windows 10 basically reinstalls itself for every major update (which is why the updates used to take forever, before they started pipelining the "major" update process. It's also why sometimes, a Windows update can "lose" user data, when it forgets to copy it over to the "new" install. Ultimately, I don't go out of my way to reinstall Windows anymore.

However, there are some side benefits. I do quite a bit of exploratory work on my computer, so there is crud from just about every software package and IDE in there. I went in and manually cleared out almost 15GB of leftover files from the User folder (not ProgramData or other folders, where there was some extra stuff, too).

I'm still exploring whether or not to use my Linux rig as my primary machine and just virtualize Windows (passing through a GPU). While it shouldn't really affect me, there is a new development in anticheat software that bans VMs, so I'm still looking into that, and a bit weary. If I did do that route, my Windows install would probably be kept as stateless as possible (basically, I'll just wipe it regularly). Steam and GOG seem to be pretty cooperative with that, so far.
 
I re-install every few months. All user data is on another drive.
 
Everytime I do major hardware upgrade. But generally once a year if no new hardware upgrades.
 
My current install originated as a Windows Vista install in 2007 ish, upgraded to Windows 7 and then upgraded to the windows 10 beta and now retail. All same install.

I cloned it from the 140gb Seagate HDD to an SSD just before my windows 10 upgrade.

I should also specify that thing same install has been through a 775, 1150 and now 1151 build. Throughout multiple video cards, from both major manufacturers as well.

New hardware? Move the drive, enjoy.
 
Definately since Windows 7, the need to reinstall windows regularly seems to be gone. I never used win vista, so maybe it started there. But vista was a train wreck in the beginning.
 
About every month.

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My last windows install from scratch was January 2011. Upgraded 2 mobo since then.
 
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No reason to with Win10. Hell, I was on a 7 year Win7 install before switching hardware for my current rig.
 
I used to do it all the time back in the day, but now that I'm getting old I just can't be bothered anymore. Unless something breaks or I'm upgrading in a way that would force it I just don't bother.
 
First time since 2009 was a couple of weeks ago since I couldn't get my install to boot on my Ryzen 5800X setup.
Tried for a few hours to convert the drive to GPT with an EFI partition but wouldn't work, so I had to do a fresh install.
 
Like most others, I used to do it pretty frequently. At least every year, but sometimes a couple times a year. Ever since Win 7 I rarely bother.
I ran roughly the same base install of Win 7 (with Windows 8 and 10 upgraded on top of it) up until 18 months ago. That's even across multiple motherboard/CPU upgrades along the way. 10 years = pretty amazing. Those biannual Windows updates tend to clean up any issues with missing or screwy system files. Plus, I can restore my install as-is with Macrium Reflect, which is way faster than re-installing everything.
Still, every now and then it's good to clean everything up a little. I did a clean install about a month ago when I got multiple pieces of new hardware. I figure whenever I get a new MoBo/CPU (probably next Fall) I'll do it again.
 
On average, within 3 years. Really depends how much bloatware I end up installing within the time period.
 
First time since 2009 was a couple of weeks ago since I couldn't get my install to boot on my Ryzen 5800X setup.
Tried for a few hours to convert the drive to GPT with an EFI partition but wouldn't work, so I had to do a fresh install.
Man oh man! I ran into this recently. I feel for you. I accidentally converted my windows drive, on purpose. Then no boot. Had to create an EFI partition, convert it to boot and copy some files in.

Don't want to derail, just offer some information for the future.
 
Man oh man! I ran into this recently. I feel for you. I accidentally converted my windows drive, on purpose. Then no boot. Had to create an EFI partition, convert it to boot and copy some files in.

Don't want to derail, just offer some information for the future.
I was getting an error trying to resize the partition for the EFI partition, then I was getting an error during the GPT conversion.
I did the exact same steps on my friends machine when I was upgrading his machine from an i7 4770 to a Ryzen 3900X. His machine has been running great for the past year.
 
I'm probably around the once a year mark currently. Just did today as I finally went spinner'less in the main rig. ( never too late i guess 🤣 )
 
I used to do it about 4 times a year. Now I only do it as part of troubleshooting problems.
 
Many times when I have new equipment

but when that settles down, it can be years before I do it again

it is definitely easier these days with a USB key and windows 10 picking up all the drivers more or less

unlike the F6 for windows NT 🙄
 
It used to be twice a year with previous versions of Windows, but with 10, only when I make a major hardware change/upgrade.
 
Like many, in the days of old re-installing on a regular basis was a normal practice. My current install of Win 10 has been through a couple entire system changes. I remember trying to just put an Win XP drive in a different system...ugh
 
Did it first time in a couple of years the other day, I wanted to try Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019, now it's backed up with all apps needed for computer life, no need to reinstall fresh until the next one pops up...
 
Did it first time in a couple of years the other day, I wanted to try Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019, now it's backed up with all apps needed for computer life, no need to reinstall fresh until the next one pops up...
I thought it was difficult for most to get a license for that, interested to know if mere mortals can obtain it.
 
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Google is your friend:

Send me a pm and I can send you in the right direction...
 
How Often do you re-install windows if ever? windows 10 pro 64 bit etc...
Every couple of years when windoze takes a dump. Like right now, dcom errors are piling up, googled how to fix them, then other dcom errors replaced the fixed ones, facepalm. Suddenly lost the search button for no reason. lol, os refresh is ahead of schedule now.
 
I upgrade/downgrade/sidegrade/rebuild my systems so often that my Windows installs don't have a chance to get stale lol

But back in the XP days I'd reinstall every few months, although to be fair that was the result of teenage me breaking the OS as often as it was actual issues with Windows.

My father though... Ran the same install of XP on his Gateway Celeron office computer from about 2002 right through to I helped him pick a new system in 2014 :eek: I can't even imagine how slow that fucking thing must have been towards the end, and it wasn't much to begin with.
 
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