is reformatting your pc a neccesary thing?my son says he has to do it once a year at a cost of 100.00 dollars?

Answer 1

Been using systems at home and work for years now; probably 10 different machines. Never done it; never needed to.

SOunds like a scam to me

Answer 2

I don't understand why it's costing money as it's relatively easy to do it yourself. It is not something you HAVE to do, but it can help speed up the computer. But as others have said, it should be seen as a last resort. Run registry cleaners, Anti-Spyware, and Virus Scan. If none of these work then it may be something you have to do.

99% of the time the problem is in the registry. If you install and uninstall a large number of programs after a while your registry can become corrupted. The registry is vital to doing anything on the computer.

But yea, it's not something that has to be done, but it isn't a bad thing to do every now and then...probably doesn't need to be done as often as once a year, once every other year may even be more then you need.

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

It's necessary only if it continues to be plagued by viruses, spyware, improperly uninstalled programs, Internet clutter. All these things could better be managed by:

*Installing a quality antivirus program (such as Norton or Kaspersky AV)

*Installing a quality antispyware program (Ad-aware, Spybot Search & Destroy, Windows Defender)

*Performing routine maintenance on the PC (Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragment)

Properly uninstalling programs no longer needed/wanted (Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs)

And by trying to stay off of/out of unsavory websites.

A reformat is only a last resort.

Answer 4

It's nice to have a fresh format every once in a while. Especially if you're the type that likes to install a whole lotta software and try different things out....or if you're not one to keep a good hold over your system and allow programs to get too intrusive

In any case, get yourself one good windows cd and save the 100 bucks a year and do it yourself....First attempt might chew up more than an hour of your time but once you get the hang of it pretty smooth going.

Answer 5

No it is not, reformatting is not necessary for computer maintenance and should only be used as a last resort. With proper maintenance, regularly defragging, virus and spyware scanning, removal of unneeded files and with a general internal dusting with canned air, reformatting should not be necessary. My desktop has been running for three years none stop and has not been reformatted once since I got it four years ago.

Answer 6

its not necesary for most people.

There are some cases where even using Win XP an annual format is useful.

Under Win95 and 98 I kept backups of all data and formatted every 3 months... The PC slowed down due to the way the registry self-corrupted. XP is not as bad about that issue.

Answer 7

No,

You only reformat when your OS suffers a total and complete meltdown (which should never happen) or your doing a clean install to a new version of the OS.

Answer 8

$100??!?! why. I think you are refering to reformatting a hard drive, this wipes the hard drive of its directory so it cannot find where the files have been saved on the disk, essentially a blank disk, but not really, all the data is still on the disk but cannot be accessed unless it is taking to a data retrival comapany. Reformating costs nothing to do. It is not an essential part of pc matainence.

Answer 9

I think your son is robbing you blind.. There is no need for reformatting every year.. and no where in the world i've heard that it costs $100!!!

Answer 10

Your son has a great imaginiation. Take the $100 and take your wife out to dinner at a nice restaurant.