[Wulvy]

I'm going to reinstall Windows 7 on my laptop when I can be bothered, mainly just to change from 32 to 64 bit I can use all my RAM. As others have said, cleaning out unused stuff, defragging and running a cleaning app (I use CCleaner) makes it largely unnecessary to do full reinstalls.

 

[desktophifi]

If my HDD crashes, i need to buy another and reinstall the OS. 
 
(only happened once)

 

[RichWhitfield]

With XP it was every few months, now on 7, have to wait and see.  I like a good clean out every now and then!

 

[Roller]

There are really a lot of variables to be taken in account, when talking about Windows. Depending on the usage of the system, if/how apps are installed/uninstalled, and the quality of said apps. While newer Windows versions are more resilient to natural occuring issues, some might (not always) happen.
 
But for someone with average computer knowledge, there is no reason why a system can't go over one year without a system refresh.

 

[eriktheg]

Okay, I probably reinstall around every 4-6 months, already reinstalled windows 7 64bit 3 times since I first got it.
If I get a virus, I usually don't trust my virus scanner and remove it with a reinstall.

 

[KingStyles]

I only use mine as a music server so once everything is stripped off of it, the only thing that goes on it is music and the only time it goes on the internet is for HD downloads. So far I havent had to reinstall once I had it set up. I think the only time I would reinstall is if the harddrive crashes.

 

[eriktheg]

Your hard drive doesn't crash because of the operating system. It crashes because you need a new hard drive

A hard drive crash is a hardware issue, not a software issue. The OS doesn't run it, rather It runs the OS. So if IT crashes, then the OS goes with it. If the OS crashes, then IT still runs lol
 
Bro, change your hard drive before you lose everything you have worked for.

 

[Bleddyn]

i reformat my mac quite often as i get bored and like to play around. windows never, though it is due to get one as i buy a new 1tb hard drive.

 

[mark2410]

dpends on the use of the computer the main two vary but average once every 6 - 9 months.  the ones i use regularly but not intensively pretty much never

 

[FallenAngel]

My personal, very rarely, as I don't let it get messy.
For others, enough times to be sick of it.

 

[Mkubota1]

Mac...  so basically every time my hard drive dies or I want a larger one (read: maybe once in the lifetime of the computer).  Also, somewhat unrelated: I reboot at least twice a year (and also after required OS updates). 

 

[stevenswall]

Over the last 6 months, I have installed/reinstalled OSs around 8 times... but then again, it's the first time I've owned my own computer, and I am trying to find exactly what OS I like. I switch between Ubuntu, Mint 10, Puppy, Win7, and Splashtop.

 

 

[FallenAngel]

 

[akacoke]

re-install OS doesnt help your speed much,  i clean most the parts with air duster every other week, sometimes your laptop or desktop running slow is your harddrive, old or crappy hard drive makes it slow

 

[FallenAngel]

LOL... of course no operating system (unless specifically designed to modify hardware settings) will change your pure clock speed; it's simply a matter of the amount of crap people have installed that runs in the background that takes up a potentially HUGE amount of resources that makes the difference.