4 ms·

"Now - there is zero need to re-install at all, I only do it when I change hardware platform completely - storage, MB etc." This isn't true. It's routine for

"Now - there is zero need to re-install at all, I only do it when I change hardware platform completely - storage, MB etc." This isn't true. It's routine for goofy conflicts even within MSFT's own stack (Office + Windows + whatever) to put you in a place where reinstalling Windows is the easiest fix. Plus, if you install and uninstall lots of software (e.g., if you work at a software company), C:\Windows just gets bigger and bigger over time. The only way to reclaim that space is to wipe & reinstall.

Yizahi 7y ago
I do plently of install/uninstalls of MS software - office re-install, office upgrade, MSVS install/uninstall (all of this due to other reasons, not because it was "slow") and I don't see any regressions because of this, including on my older work laptop with 3 years old continuous Win7 install. As for size of Windows dir - it not "leftovers" from uninstalls (but they exist too of course), it is a feature of Windows and 95% of it is a Windows updates, all chain of updates is stored locally and can't be safely deleted (according to MS engineers). Yes, it grows very big, especially if start point was older version/SP of Windows. In extreme cases, e.g. installing release version of Win7 and then updating to all service packs and updates will cause it to increase by 15-20Gb. But it is a known expected "feature" and it doesn't slow your PC, only clutters your c:\ partition. And re-install will not reclaim this space, it will be taken again immediately as soon as updates arrive on your fresh install of Windows. If by chance you a talking about clutter of 3rd party apps, then it is not a windows problem. E.g. some drivers like to keep older installers in appdata, some apps keeps backups of data there - worst offender is Garmin updater, which creates 12Gb backups every map update. That's not Windows issues.
- ubermonkey 7y ago
  It grows very big even if you start with Win 10. Honestly, it's indefensible to have a 30GB Windows folder.
WorldMaker 7y ago
Office hasn't had goofy conflicts with Windows since it switched to App-V-based installs nearly a decade ago (just after Office 2010, IIRC). (3rd Party Extensions to Office may still do dumb things, but the base Office install itself won't.)
- ubermonkey 7y ago
  last year I had to (ie, on MSFT's suggestion) reinstall Windows to fix a conflict with Outlook and Office, all with modern revs, so ... ?

Yizahi 7y ago

I do plently of install/uninstalls of MS software - office re-install, office upgrade, MSVS install/uninstall (all of this due to other reasons, not because it was "slow") and I don't see any regressions because of this, including on my older work laptop with 3 years old continuous Win7 install. As for size of Windows dir - it not "leftovers" from uninstalls (but they exist too of course), it is a feature of Windows and 95% of it is a Windows updates, all chain of updates is stored locally and can't be safely deleted (according to MS engineers). Yes, it grows very big, especially if start point was older version/SP of Windows. In extreme cases, e.g. installing release version of Win7 and then updating to all service packs and updates will cause it to increase by 15-20Gb. But it is a known expected "feature" and it doesn't slow your PC, only clutters your c:\ partition. And re-install will not reclaim this space, it will be taken again immediately as soon as updates arrive on your fresh install of Windows. If by chance you a talking about clutter of 3rd party apps, then it is not a windows problem. E.g. some drivers like to keep older installers in appdata, some apps keeps backups of data there - worst offender is Garmin updater, which creates 12Gb backups every map update. That's not Windows issues.

ubermonkey 7y ago
It grows very big even if you start with Win 10. Honestly, it's indefensible to have a 30GB Windows folder.

WorldMaker 7y ago

Office hasn't had goofy conflicts with Windows since it switched to App-V-based installs nearly a decade ago (just after Office 2010, IIRC). (3rd Party Extensions to Office may still do dumb things, but the base Office install itself won't.)

ubermonkey 7y ago
last year I had to (ie, on MSFT's suggestion) reinstall Windows to fix a conflict with Outlook and Office, all with modern revs, so ... ?