How frequent you format your hard drive?

I'm too computer illiterate. lol. I don't know how to do that type of thing though I really wish I did.

I back up everything and reformat my hard drive for a fresh OS every year haha! I do that do for threat of corrupt file system, clean system to reduce the threat of any kind of virus, spyware, rootkit blablablal haha...

Formatted my hard drive? Once.
Formatted my Windows partition? Three times.

Mind you, this is in 4 years of a computer's life. The hard drive came without a file system, so I took the chance to partition it and format it right then.

Afterwards, only thing I got to format was the Windows partition when I decided that I had butchered it beyond recognition and not the world's greatest IT expert could undo my mess (Mind you, my problem was never virus or anything of that crap), so the only way to deal with it was install a fresh XP.
Then there was also a few customized Windows XP builds I made that I wanted to try out... I guess there are virtual PCs for something, but I prefer a "Real Deal Simulation".
Beyond that, I did made a backup system with Ghost images so that I never more had to worry with installing Windows. I haven't resorted to those backup yet, but... I wonder if that counts as formating the partition too when I do use it.

If I can avoid it, I tend not to format my HDs, in the event that I do format, usually it's once a year.

I don't format my computer unless I have to. I only had my laptop for a few months, when I had to format it as it started acting up, and once I formatted it, it has been fine since. I just don't think it is necessary to format my computer that often, as it can be time consuming, not to mention, if I have a lot on here, I have to reinstall everything all over again. That part I don't like. I do have problems with IE8 locking up, but then again, that is microsoft for you. Other than that, it seems to be working just fine. It is ironic though, that my daughter has the same computer I do, as I bought it for her, and her hard drive crashed. My computer and my son in laws have never done that. She couldn't even format it if she tied, as she couldn't access her hard drive as it wouldn't recognize the operating system. All, in all, my computer does everything I need it to. Have a good day, and happy mylotting.

Hello mysf31, I go for a format when I see there are absolutely no options left because it takes so long to install the OS, device drivers, antivirus, updates....its terrible, I can not think. Last time I formatted my PC almost 9 months back and that was due to a virus attack and I had really no options left. I would be screaming if I am told to format my PC often. I always try to do proper maintenance to avoid that ultimate resort. For me it is a matter of necessity not preference.

Formatting and getting pc ready for our needs is very big task to known people about formatting of hard drive and installing operating system in it.

As I experienced since last 7 years, I dont do format with immediate instance of getting problem. I use tweak software to resolve my problems. Its been solved all my problems.

But unfortunately I recently formatted my pc to reestablish my total file system and to generate new partitions to store data. Regular formatting of hard drive may cause problem and frequent errors may cause bad sectors.

so be careful while you formatting hard drives.

Unless its very very important i dont do these things but i regularly backup my data inorder to overcome the threats and i do not face any threats till now though i use internet regularly. If we use proper internet security program you can avoid these threats. And another thing to note is frequent formatting of pc may be harmful to your hard disk and can crash. So i suggest try to avoid formating as much as possible.

i had a really bad experience with formatting.i did it to my hard drive about several times and after a year my hard disk is gone. then i am constantly getting error about ' c drive corruption ' and next time it is not even showing the disk space for c drive .

so i have to get a new one now . so; i don't format hd until there is a real big problem with my os.

Formatting hard drive makes your pc fresh from the start but it's not only time consuming AND you may have the chance of loosing your personal data plus your software which need to be re-installed and or may be re-configured.
Yes, of course I had to deal with a couple of formats before and really thinking of a new one nowadays. But the last time I remember this procedure was about 2 years ago. Before that? An other additional 4 years ago. Am I a fare user? Not at all. I just free up my temp files occasionally and do not install every software I come across. But after heavy surfing, my disk really gets tired and needs fragmentation which is also time consuming but better than re-insalling everything from the start.