pc crashed out during working in live, total restart of pc ?

[H20nly]

Slip streaming means creating a Windows install disc with updates that have been released since the RTM release. Im not sure how thats relevant unless you actually mean something different.

My reload of windows takes about 15 minutes when using incremental imaging. On some PC labs ive setup in the past, every time the workstations reboots, its actually loading a fresh image cached to the drive or pulls it off the network at boot time. This way you can guarantee that every workstation is free from software issues %100 of the time. Its not practical for a home DAW, but incremental imaging gives you most of the same functionality.

Ive been using CC cleaner for about two years, its a decent cleaner, but theres an enormous amount of stuff it doesnt touch that can be removed manually. Its registry cleaner leaves a lot to be desired for one, its a bit timid.

You're mincing words. I meant your image is going to have all the Windows updates.
It is going to have all the updates right?
If so, does that not acheive the same ends?

The biggest problem, I see, with an image is that its not going to have any other update after the day the image was made - like DAW updates or sample libraries or recently saved porn... Also, if one gets too click happy with those snapshots one could potentially end up copying over a bunch of crud that one doesn't need - maybe even actual problems. If you plan on stating that program "x" does it incrementally, thats great!

Maybe the OP can order that software during the same purchase as the hardware that will most likely be needed to fix the original problem. Of course, maybe its a pluggin so no hardware will have to be ordered and instead the extra money can be used to purchase the PRO version of said software.

Speaking of "relevant" statements...

Windows absolutely benefits from periodic reinstallation

I'm actually quite curious how it would benefit Windows?

[fatrabbit]

Check for dust in your PC.

I had a problem where my PC would switch off instantly. Turns out the graphics card was all dusty and therefore overheating.

[adventurepants_]

Slip streaming means creating a Windows install disc with updates that have been released since the RTM release. Im not sure how thats relevant unless you actually mean something different.

My reload of windows takes about 15 minutes when using incremental imaging. On some PC labs ive setup in the past, every time the workstations reboots, its actually loading a fresh image cached to the drive or pulls it off the network at boot time. This way you can guarantee that every workstation is free from software issues %100 of the time. Its not practical for a home DAW, but incremental imaging gives you most of the same functionality.

Ive been using CC cleaner for about two years, its a decent cleaner, but theres an enormous amount of stuff it doesnt touch that can be removed manually. Its registry cleaner leaves a lot to be desired for one, its a bit timid.

You're mincing words. I meant your image is going to have all the Windows updates.
It is going to have all the updates right?
If so, does that not acheive the same ends?

The biggest problem, I see, with an image is that its not going to have any other update after the day the image was made - like DAW updates or sample libraries or recently saved porn... Also, if one gets too click happy with those snapshots one could potentially end up copying over a bunch of crud that one doesn't need - maybe even actual problems. If you plan on stating that program "x" does it incrementally, thats great!

Maybe the OP can order that software during the same purchase as the hardware that will most likely be needed to fix the original problem. Of course, maybe its a pluggin so no hardware will have to be ordered and instead the extra money can be used to purchase the PRO version of said software.

Speaking of "relevant" statements...

Windows absolutely benefits from periodic reinstallation

I'm actually quite curious how it would benefit Windows?

Im not mincing words at all. You were using jargon you didnt actually know the meaning of, and you got sprung.

Im not going to try to convince you that imaging is a better way forward that whatever you are doing, I was just countering your claim that reinstallation was pointless, as compared to regular maintenance. I know through experience that it brings some gains, and was just putting forward that view.

As far as how it benefits windows, its all small gains. Its mostly down to GUI snappiness, and small gains in file access and registry access, startup/shutdown times.

[H20nly]

^

I know what a slip stream disc is I'm afraid. By your strict definition I've even made one for work a few years ago.

the point I was making is missed by stumbling over that...

I can see doing a slip stream reinstall from an image. It makes everything... the way it was when you first installed it without having to reinstall it

I probably should have said:

"I can see doing a slip stream type reinstall from an image. It makes everything... the way it was when you first installed it without having to reinstall it"

I'm not denying for a second that an image is a cool thing. however its not the "be all, end all". there is still work involved both creating it and then in worrying about any changes that have been made since the image's creation. my point wasn't to derail your suggestion but rather to re-emphasize to the OP that Windows doesn't have to be reinstalled every couple of months or once a year (whatever it was that initially was said). I think that's overkill. If you take care of your system (barring a major virus or hardware failure) you won't have to reinstall at all - possibly ever, for the life of the machine.

my question above was a "trick question". reinstalling the OS doesn't benefit the OS at all per se. it just resets it.

I just don't want the OP to start hunting flies with a shotgun when a fly swatter will do fine.

@ leighbeynon for what its worth... I do agree with adventurepants - IF you have the software and time to make an image of your PC after a fresh install you can make yourself a shortcut to reinstalling later. That comes at a price though. You'll need to have external storage or an additional drive and have your life organized before you do. Once you wipe your OS. There is no going back. Personally, I usually save a copy of the C:\ drive or just save the whole hard drive when I do a reinstall. There is inevitably something you will forget the first 2 or 3 times (and sometimes beyond) you do a reinstall. Those can be painful lessons.

[nebulae]

If you built your PC, you gotto make sure the motherboard was seated correctly. This kind of random shutoff could be caused by an electrical short of the motherboard somehow contacting the case.

[nebulae]

All you have to do is download CCleaner from here http://www.ccleaner.com/ and it'll remove all junk files as well as purge the registry of broken links. I had the same XP install for 6 years without re-installing once, it ran as well as the day I installed it too. In fact it's still there really, I got a new machine and that old one is now an archive for old audio files.

You can remove files that you do want with CCleaner too so read instructions and take care with it if you do try it. Once you understand what it's doing it's a godsend.

Basically, it's a complete myth that you have to re-install windows once a year. If you like doing it then I guess it's a good way to run, I can't imagine having to go through and re-build by system that often.

I used to have to do this with early versions of XP. As of XP SP2, I agree with Martyn. If you keep it clean, it runs clean.

Also, thx for the link. Hope it works with Win 7.