How often do you (re)install your OS?

[Crazybc]

If I don't have too I don't. My last operating system windows 10 was installed when it first came out and still works perfectly fine Computer still boots from off in about 17 seconds and hasn't had any issues yet. I keep it clean though and remove any programs I wont be using. I don't use any anti anything other then defender and malware bytes. I also use CC Cleaner and disk cleanup when I need too.

 

[80-watt Hamster]

When absolutely* necessary. Specific recent instances:

My MSI Modern laptop had two reinstalls (outside of replacing W11 with 10) because the trackpad arbitrarily stopped working, and I couldn't figure out a less-drastic solution.

When GHub took a dump on the office machine, and reinstallations and old versions didn't remedy the situation.

*"Absolutely" hypothetically means irrevocably broken, but usually means "more broken than I can be arsed to futz with."

 

[Ruru]

I also use CC Cleaner and disk cleanup when I need too.

Oh hell no, that is pure crap these days. I used it like a decade ago when it still was good.

CCleaner - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Windows' own disk cleanup is more than enough, at least for me.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Oh hell no, that is pure crap these days. I used it like a decade ago when it still was good.

I totally disagree. In fact, that is just FUD.

It is an excellent program. Sadly, a few years ago when it was taken over by Avast and cost cutting measures were implemented haphazardly, it took a major hit which sadly, some have never forgiven them for it or forgot. That is too bad because it was all Avast and not Piriform - the actual developers. Note even your own Wikipedia link says noting bad after 2020 and even that was about Defender incorrectly calling it a PUP.

If you don't like it, fine. But it is incorrect and totally misleading to call it pure crap.

FTR, I use CCleaner on all my computers, and have for 2 decades now. I have NEVER, not once had it cause any problem, even with its registry cleaner feature, that was not cleared by a simple reboot. IMO, one of CC's best features is you can designate which cookies you want to keep when cleaning out the clutter. This is unlike Windows' own Disk Cleanup. Nothing against Disk Cleanup, but like most integrated utilities in Windows, it is effective, but very basic.

That said, let's not let this thread get driven OT. It is not about CC.

 

[Ruru]

I totally disagree. In fact, that is just FUD.

It is an excellent program. Sadly, a few years ago when it was taken over by Avast and cost cutting measures were implemented haphazardly, it took a major hit which sadly, some have never forgiven them for it or forgot. That is too bad because it was all Avast and not Piriform - the actual developers. Note even your own Wikipedia link says noting bad after 2020 and even that was about Defender incorrectly calling it a PUP.

If you don't like it, fine. But it is incorrect and totally misleading to call it pure crap.

FTR, I use CCleaner on all my computers, and have for 2 decades now. I have NEVER, not once had it cause any problem, even with its registry cleaner feature, that was not cleared by a simple reboot. IMO, one of CC's best features is you can designate which cookies you want to keep when cleaning out the clutter. This is unlike Windows' own Disk Cleanup. Nothing against Disk Cleanup, but like most integrated utilities in Windows, it is effective, but very basic.

That said, let's not let this thread get driven OT. It is not about CC.

Well, these days I wouldn't touch anything Avast-related even with a 40-feet pole their free AV was fine like 15 years ago, but after MS put their Security Essentials out, I haven't used any third party AV. But that's just me but at least I don't have nothing to complain.

And practically not OT, at least my reason to reinstall OS is that it has gathered so much crap that it's easier just to wipe the OS drive and have a fresh start. Remember the XP days?

 

[Crazybc]

Oh hell no, that is pure crap these days. I used it like a decade ago when it still was good.

CCleaner - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Windows' own disk cleanup is more than enough, at least for me.

That's fine for you .Whatever. r Its what I use and have never had an issue with it. I don't use another cleaning or anything but CC Cleaner and Malwarebytes and of coarse disk clean They work for me I've used it since it came out and will still be using it on my new build. As matter of fact its already installed on it

 

[AusWolf]

I don't think you should ever really need to do this...

Agreed. If a phone can go indefinitely without reinstalling its OS, then why can't a PC?

Oh hell no, that is pure crap these days. I used it like a decade ago when it still was good.

CCleaner - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Windows' own disk cleanup is more than enough, at least for me.

Agreed with this, too. Third-party software tend to have difficulty determining what to delete. Sometimes they delete too much stuff, breaking your OS. Sometimes they don't delete enough. Utterly useless.

Not to mention, no OS should need any cleanup utility to run properly. It just proves how bad Windows is.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Well, these days I wouldn't touch anything Avast-related even with a 40-feet pole their free AV was fine like 15 years ago, but after MS put their Security Essentials out, I haven't used any third party AV.

Each of the fiascos that happened after Avast purchased Piriform were the result of breaches and mistakes on the Avast side of the house. After the 2nd big breach due to compromised Avast employee credentials, the Piriform side took back management and admin of CCleaner. For this reason, CCleaner became, once again, trustworthy.

I never really trusted Avast and that was cemented whey they bought (and ruined, IMO) AVG. But that's for a different discussion.

I too have used MSE and then Defender as my primary security since MSE came out for W7. And have no regrets doing so.

Agreed with this, too. Third-party software tend to have difficulty determining what to delete.

Sorry but that is just nonsense. There is no reason software would have difficulty determining what to delete just because it is 3rd party. But also, it is nonsense to lump all 3rd party software together. That's stereotyping at best. I will agree that sometimes, CCleaner may leave a junk file behind but that is simply because, out of an abundance of caution, it is more conservative than others. It is also why, besides Windows own Disk Cleanup program, it is the only cleaner I use or recommend. But more importantly, it is because CCleaner is a conservative clean, it does NOT break the OS!

CCleaner has been around for 20 years. CNET editors gave the application a rating of 5/5 stars, calling it a 'must-have tool'. It was awarded Editor's Choice Award in April 2009 by CNET. It has had over 2 billion downloads worldwide. In January 2014 it had been the most popular software on FileHippo for more than a year, and had a 5-star editor's rating on download.zone and Softpedia.

None of that would be possible if it were a lousy program that breaks Windows - as some who clearly are not users of it, want others to believe.

Not to mention, no OS should need any cleanup utility to run properly. It just proves how bad Windows is.

More nonsense. I agree that no OS should "need" such a utility. But you just wrong to suggest it is because Windows is so bad. Ever heard of BleachBit? Why are there so many Android cleaner tools? Or iPhone cleaners?

Come on! You know that is not the problem. The problem is installed apps do a lousy job of cleaning up after themselves. When Norton, for example, leaves dozens of orphaned files and registry entries behind when users try to uninstall it, that is NOT Windows fault. That is 100% Norton's. When Chrome leaves 1000s of cookies behind, that is not Windows' fault. When NVIDIA dumps dozens of duplicate files all over our drives, that is not Windows fault.

 

[AusWolf]

Sorry but that is just nonsense. There is no reason software would have difficulty determining what to delete just because it is 3rd party. But also, it is nonsense to lump all 3rd party software together. That's stereotyping at best. I will agree that sometimes, CCleaner may leave a junk file behind but that is simply because, out of an abundance of caution, it is more conservative than others. It is also why, besides Windows own Disk Cleanup program, it is the only cleaner I use or recommend. But more importantly, it is because CCleaner is a conservative clean, it does NOT break the OS!

CCleaner has been around for 20 years. CNET editors gave the application a rating of 5/5 stars, calling it a 'must-have tool'. It was awarded Editor's Choice Award in April 2009 by CNET. It has had over 2 billion downloads worldwide. In January 2014 it had been the most popular software on FileHippo for more than a year, and had a 5-star editor's rating on download.zone and Softpedia.

Sorry, but cleanup tools are nonsense. They had some use back in the HDD days, but as soon as everybody started booting from an SSD, they lost their point.

I don't give much credit to CNET, either. They seem to promote all kinds of garbage software, like driver updaters, for no reason.

More nonsense. I agree that no OS should "need" such a utility. But you just wrong to suggest it is because Windows is so bad. Ever heard of BleachBit? Why are there so many Android cleaner tools? Or iPhone cleaners?

Come on! You know that is not the problem. The problem is installed apps do a lousy job of cleaning up after themselves. When Norton, for example, leaves dozens of orphaned files and registry entries behind when users try to uninstall it, that is NOT Windows fault. That is 100% Norton's. When Chrome leaves 1000s of cookies behind, that is not Windows' fault. When NVIDIA dumps dozens of duplicate files all over our drives, that is not Windows fault.

I don't use any Android or Linux cleanup utility whatsoever. In fact, I don't use anything other than the included swipe and defrag tools on Windows, either. I just manually remove files and install folders left behind by uninstalled apps and have no issues at all.

More so, I used the same Windows 10 installation across 3 entire system swaps with at least 5 GPU swaps with lots of software installed and uninstalled before I moved to Linux, and still had zero issues.

Anno 2024 when everybody boots from an SSD, cleanup tools are pure placebo.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Sorry, but cleanup tools are nonsense. They had some use back in the HDD days, but as soon as everybody started booting from an SSD, they lost their point.

Huh? That makes no sense either. I don't get you. I know you are smarter than this. So is this just to obfuscate the truth?

Your comment suggests SSDs can't fill up and run out of space with clutter like HDs do. That, of course, is total nonsense. The TRUTH is, SSDs not only can fill up just as easily as hard drives can, but it perhaps is even more important that SSDs have plenty of free space available as SSDs need it for TRIM and wear leveling, essential features hard drives don't use or need. And of course, SSDs are used day in and day out, during normal operation for temporary files and cookies - exactly like hard drives.

I don't give much credit to CNET, either.

Of course you don't. So obviously, because you don't like CNET, they must be wrong. Along with all the other sites that give it a good review. In fact, just scanning through this page, I could not find one bad review. And within the "cons", not one indicated CCleaner broke Windows, corrupted files, degraded performance or caused any ill-effects.

FTR, I don't like, and never use driver updaters either. But that has absolutely nothing to do with liking or disliking any other class of utilities.

Time to move on.

 

[hat]

I don't if I don't have to. Been rocking my current install for... I dunno how many years. Actually come to think of it, this install may only be a couple of years old, only because I had an SSD die within the past few years which would have been the last thing to prompt a new install. If not for that, it would be many years older. The next reinstall will happen when I either upgrade my computer (whole platform upgrade, the 2600k is very old now), or the SSD dies again, or something happens that wrecks my install. One time my PC became unusable after a shitty Windows Update, which prompted a reinstall. I couldn't boot into Windows at all anymore, I would just get a blue screen.

 

[AusWolf]

Huh? That makes no sense either. I don't get you. I know you are smarter than this. So is this just to obfuscate the truth?

Your comment suggests SSDs can't fill up and run out of space with clutter like HDs do. That, of course, is total nonsense. The TRUTH is, SSDs not only can fill up just as easily as hard drives can, but it perhaps is even more important that SSDs have plenty of free space available as SSDs need it for TRIM and wear leveling, essential features hard drives don't use or need. And of course, SSDs are used day in and day out, during normal operation for temporary files and cookies - exactly like hard drives.

Yes, SSDs can fill up, but not with empty folders, lost .dll's and registry entries which take kilobytes at most. Cleanup tools were invented to prevent HDDs from slowing down considerably due to unused clutter. SSDs don't spin and have near immediate access times, so while the difference between loading a fresh and an old, cluttered copy of Windows could be minutes on a HDD, it's barely noticeable on an SSD.

Of course you don't. So obviously, because you don't like CNET, they must be wrong. Along with all the other sites that give it a good review. In fact, just scanning through this page, I could not find one bad review. And within the "cons", not one indicated CCleaner broke Windows, corrupted files, degraded performance or caused any ill-effects.

FTR, I don't like, and never use driver updaters either. But that has absolutely nothing to do with liking or disliking any other class of utilities.

Time to move on.

Do I really have to say on a tech forum that 95% of search results to such queries is usually utter bullshit and that one should filter between useful and useless information? Geez.

You wouldn't believe how many clickbait review sites exist that only promote useless products instead of providing useful reviews.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Yes, SSDs can fill up, but not with empty folders, lost .dll's and registry entries which take kilobytes at most.

Huh? Of course they can. NTFS works essentially the same way on SSDs as it does on HDs. You really need to do some homework on how data is stored on disks, all disks, before you say something else that makes no sense. You are not doing yourself any favors by making statements like that. Other than access and write speeds, the only other major difference is SSD performance is not affected by files being fragmented.

To suggest Windows does not write to the registry on SSDs as it does with hard drives is simply and totally wrong. Same story with empty folders.

Cleanup tools were invented to prevent HDDs from slowing down considerably due to unused clutter.

True but contrary to what you seem to incorrectly believe, preventing slow downs is NOT their only purpose. Simply preventing disks from running out of space is too, and still is a major purpose.

so while the difference between loading a fresh and an old, cluttered copy of Windows could be minutes on a HDD, it's barely noticeable on an SSD.

Yeah, so? Again, you seem to think the only purpose to clean out clutter is performance. That is a tunnel-vision, ill-conceived and incorrect perception.

Do I really have to say on a tech forum that 95% of search results to such queries is usually utter bullshit and that one should filter between useful and useless information? Geez.

You wouldn't believe how many clickbait review sites exist that only promote useless products instead of providing useful reviews.

Come on! Don't be silly. Are you really going to suggest that the majority of regulars on this site are so naïve and ignorant that they can't effectively use a search engine? Or that they don't know how to detect and cull out such BS and click bait?

Are you that naïve and ignorant and so believe everyone else must be too? Geez.

Again, I don't get you. I know you are smarter than this. So this must just be you trying to obfuscate the truth with nonsense. Why? IDK. But please stop wasting everyone's time with it and let's get back on-topic - which is about reinstalling Windows.

 

[AusWolf]

Huh? Of course they can. NTFS works essentially the same way on SSDs as it does on HDs. You really need to do some homework on how data is stored on disks, all disks, before you say something else that makes no sense. You are not doing yourself any favors by making statements like that. Other than access and write speeds, the only other major difference is SSD performance is not affected by files being fragmented.

I know how data works, but I would never suggest that a modern SSD with relatively decent capacity (anything above 64-128 GB) will run out of storage because of clutter left by uninstalled apps.

To suggest Windows does not write to the registry on SSDs as it does with hard drives is simply and totally wrong. Same story with empty folders.

I never suggested that. What I suggested is that chewing through old and unnecessary registry keys took minutes on a HDD, but takes an insignificant amount of time on an SSD during boot.

Come on! Don't be silly. Are you really going to suggest that the majority of regulars on this site are so naïve and ignorant that they can't effectively use a search engine? Or that they don't know how to detect and cull out such BS and click bait?

Are you that naïve and ignorant and so believe everyone else must be too? Geez.

You used a bunch of search results as your proof of why CCleaner is great. Therefore, you must consider those results relevant. I don't. One should filter information, not dump it here as proof of something. Those search results aren't meant for tech enthusiasts like you and me. They are meant for regulars who have trouble finding the power button. They will happily consider any software good if a billion review sites recommend it.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I know how data works, but I would never suggest that a modern SSD with relatively decent capacity (anything above 64-128 GB) will run out of storage because of clutter left by uninstalled apps.

Wow. Clearly, it would seem, you only see what you want to see and not what's really out there.

Was I only talking about clutter left by uninstalled apps? Nope.

What I suggested is that chewing through old and unnecessary registry keys took minutes on a HDD, but takes an insignificant amount of time on an SSD during boot.

Again, only what you want to see. You are still stuck on time. This has NOTHING to do with time. Sorry you can't refuse to see that.

And BTW, that's not even an issue with HDs because "chewing through old and unnecessary registry keys" "during boot" is not even how data is accessed in the registry - as anyone who has a inkling of understanding of the registry would know. So it is becoming more and more clear that you don't know how data works. That is NOT meant as a criticism, but rather an observation.

64 to 128GB is a relatively decent capacity? Yeah right. For the OS only, maybe. Start installing apps like Office and a users security and other apps, then start saving their personal files and that 128GB is going to be all used up before the first cookie is dropped on it. And modern vs earlier generation SSD is immaterial too.

I ask again - lets move on. I am.

 

[Shihab]

Agreed. If a phone can go indefinitely without reinstalling its OS, then why can't a PC?

Phones use relatively immutable operating systems, with fixed hardware combinations requiring zero after-market drivers, and userspace applications so confined it makes 1984 sound like a Utopia by comparison.

Your typical Windows is none of these things (well, except the 1984 part, I guess). And you don't need third party drivers to eff up the OS, Microsoft seems to have made that an in-house product as well. </s>

That said, I do agree that reinstalls, outside repair, upgrade and migration scenarios, are unnecessary for a PC.

 

[Gunbound]

I remember when I was getting really annoyed with the delayed loading of start menu on my 6th gen laptop, I reset the PC and I noticed it was not happening anymore. Maybe sfc /scannow could have fixed it too, but I have not learned about that until afterwards. I think over time the OS just misses and corrupts some settings.

 

[Laurijan]

like 2 times a year usually when something breaks so badly that i want fresh install.

 

[londiste]

Re-installing an OS can be a PITA, particularly if you have a lot of software and customization that can't easily be scripted to install silently either during OS installation or after.

This. Although, to be fair my current set of apps is considerably reduced or made portable so this wouldn't be that much of an issue. Outside savegames and game settings that are mostly copiable or backed up into cloud anyway.

When absolutely* necessary.

Same boat. The part where it becomes necessary is somewhat rarer though.
Looking at Windows currently on my primary computer it was originally installed in June 2011 as Windows 7, subsequently upgraded to Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The reason it was (re)installed in 2011 was running it for a while on SSDs in RAID0. Windows today allows switching the base storage type (RAID to AHCI in that case) fairly easily but back then it was a lot more twitchy and I could not get it to work in my system after trying a bunch of different things. Thus, reinstall. Shortly before that reinstall due to switch from AHCI to RAID. Before that there was an installation lasted through multiple machines and upgrades that started as Vista in 2007.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Oh hell no, that is pure crap these days.

Um, not really. The portable version is especially useful. I use it on every install where an autounattend config is not used. There were times when it had issues, but not recently. It's really very useful when properly utilized.

 

[Ruru]

Um, not really. The portable version is especially useful. I use it on every install where an autounattend config is not used.

Hm, maybe I just got carried away years ago when it was crap. Not gonna return anyway.

I'll just run Windows' disk cleanup and delete all unneccessary shit from downloads manually like I've done for few years already.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Hm, maybe I just got carried away years ago when it was crap. Not gonna return anyway.

I'll just run Windows' disk cleanup and delete all unneccessary shit from downloads manually like I've done for few years already.

I use it mostly to remove unwanted apps/programs and startup entries, which it's really good at!

 

[Ruru]

I use it mostly to remove unwanted apps/programs and startup entries, which it's really good at!

I guess.... though since Win7, the add/remove thing from control panel has worked for me

But hey, that's just me, don't wanna argue over anyone's preferences

 

[lexluthermiester]

I guess.... though since Win7, the add/remove thing from control panel has worked for me

That can't remove some of the built-in crap from microsoft, which CCleaner can, which makes it very handy.

But hey, that's just me, don't wanna argue over anyone's preferences

It's all good, I'm just trying to help you(and anyone else reading) understand why it's useful. Sure, all of that could be done with the Powershell, but CCleaner is easier/faster and does it without missing anything.

 

[Ruru]

That can't remove some of the built-in crap from microsoft, which CCleaner can, which makes it very handy.

It's all good, I'm just trying to help you(and anyone else reading) understand why it's useful. Sure, all of that could be done with the Powershell, but CCleaner is easier/faster and does it without missing anything.

I hate that when you have a license to Windows, it still installs bloatshit, I understand that in the case of unregistered computers, but one with a Pro license? Come on...

Though I'll always uninstall those when I have a fresh install at the same time when the OS is installing updates. And if it installs moar bloat, I'll uninstall them after a reboot. Just hate how commercial these OSes have became...