Comments by "Jeffrey Phipps" (@jeffreyphipps1507) on "Ask Leo!" channel.

  1. The clean option has four other advantages. 1) Many people don't realize that spyware is installed and the clean install eliminates it. 2) Windows tends to carry forward "sludge" - partial installs, aborted updates, and anything that will slow operations either in files or in registry settings. 3) having the ability to separate data files offline into separate folders and onto multiple copies of media helps organize data and speed retrieval of current data. 4) Re-installation of the OS and the apps makes sure that you have the latest drivers and app versions. You may like the older versions better, but unless you have the older versions to reinstall and plan on being your own tech support for that version, understand that vendors will stop supporting that older version. Using the newer version may be undesirable, but at least you'll have support. ----------- You may also benefit in other minor ways when reinstalling. 1) It gives you a chance to reset passwords. It's a good idea to do that once in a while. I do write them down and stick them in my safe. Using a good password manager will come first, but paper in a safe is good backup. Reinstalling is a good chance to relearn keyboard shortcuts (or learn new ones). If your mouse battery fails, you should always know how to save your work from the keyboard (or vice versa). It might also be a good time to buy a cheap USB corded mouse/keyboard as an emergency backup. All that cordless stuff can fail if the charge fails, but corded stuff can sit in a box for years until needed. Keep multiple backup drives with the same backup. Drives fail. Plan ahead. Do an image backup on multiple drives and/or media. Eons ago when I just started out, I worked tech support on physical machines. First step, ALWAYS, back up the image of the HDD twice - we didn't keep it, but we gave the client the option for a copy. Few took us up on the offer. Those that did were mighty happy when down the road a few months they at least had most of their programs and data. One client went further. They had their computers fitted for automatic backup before shut down and took a copy home. One day vandals destroyed two computers. We built new duplicates the next day and their machines reimaged from the backup and were back up and running in three hours. We had that contract for over a decade. The point here is that you should use a backup image for backup. You should start anew on new hardware and sort out the mess from old setups and data. It will run faster, and you'll be more productive over the long haul. You change machines (hopefully) every three to five years. Spending maybe one/two days starting over and preventing things from breaking is better than the nightmare of trying to "transfer" everything - trust me. Every problem imaginable manifests in a "Transfer".
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