Quote:
Originally Posted by eschwartz
Unless one has specialized needs, one should not need to be running specialized software that requires licenses. LibreOffice, Chrome/FF, VLC and a few other key FOSS software suffice for most things, and you can even install those en masse through Ninite/Chocolatey.
|
I do a lot of video and audio editing, and even more with graphics, photos, etc. Right now my uninstall program is showing 318 programs, but each plugin for Photoshop or PaintShop Pro will list as a separate program, and the graphics programs are the ones with the most registration and license keys you need to hang onto. Forever. And games. But I'd guess at least 30% of my programs require licenses or registrations.
When I had WinXP, I never once had to reformat through multiple system upgrades including motherboards and CPUs. WinXP had this great way of just letting you swap the hardware, boot up and it would find the new drivers. My 2nd PC that still runs 24/7 is still running on the original WinXP installation from 2002. And yes, it's rock solid, never BSODs or freezes, it's more stable than my Win7 x64 PC. I can't even remember the last time I restarted it, that only happens due to a power failure that reboots it, or a new Kaspersky installation. I've had 3 PCs like that where I just kept upgrading the hardware without reinstallation, the 1st one I finally changed to Win7 x64 last year, but the 3rd one is also still on WinXP, but it's a back up only now, I rarely use it anymore, but it also still works perfectly.
So when you consider digging out your old copies of programs and the licenses (at least I've always been diligent about saving them on DVDs), and configuring all the options again for each program, it literally takes me a couple of months to get everything set back up on a new install. And even then I'll go to use something and realize I forgot to install that program and I'll be installing on and off for quite awhile.
I avoid reinstalling the OS like the plague. I just never understand these people who reformat at the drop of a hat. Well in a way I do, because those that I know that do it have maybe 10 programs installed and 5 games and no customizations and that's it.