How often do you guys format?
 

It's been about 3 years for me because I got hit with a pretty bad virus.

Nice statement. There's a lot of reasons to reformat. For example if you're running XP, now is the time. Install Ubuntu.



I keep my data in my user/home folder and I back it up before reformatting. Its a good idea if your computer is running slowly.

I'd be going to Mint vs. Ubuntu if I were going to *nix but I have access to 'retired' Vista and 7 keys for free so I can stay with Windows for the forseeable future without much effort :happyanim:. I keep upgrading the computer so it seems like every couple of years between a Nuke-and-Pave here lately. Before I was upgrading, it would get too slow and reformatting every year or three was like an oil change on a car, it would just get worse and worse over time until you started fresh.