What kind of problems am I causing my computer?

Question

So far, I have reinstalled Windows Vista seven times, and Linux five times. I just wanted to know, is this wearing my computer down real bad? It doesn't have any speed, battery, or system issues, but I was just curious as to what I'm doing to it. Is it possible to slow your computer down by doing this repeatedly? Or am I just paranoid?

Answer 1

Installing software (or any reading or writing from or to a drive) moves the head.  Other than that there's no problem.  Everything else is running, whether you're installing an operating system or watching the cursor blink.

And having both Vista and Linux on the same computer is *definitely* not cause for concern.  (The only computers in my house that DON'T have at least 1 Windows and 1 Linux partition on them are my wife's laptops.  Since you can't do direct hardware access on Windows any longer [since Win98], you have to have at least a minimal Linux install.)

Answer 2

You're not doing anything to the hardware other then it's normal use. The hard disk is spinning no matter what you put on it. No problem.  

Answer 3

reinstalling gives ur pc a new life again, n its nt goin to help ur cause, if u really want 2 Fu** ur pc go delete some files from ur windows folder, bank upon it n it wont let u down

Answer 4

Do you have both Vista AND Linux on one computer? at the same time?  Doing all that repeatedly won't doing anything but if u have both running on the same computer, it is possible to run into problems with speed and some other things.

Answer 5

Everything breaks down over time and the more it is being used. But aside from that I wouldn't worry about it.

Answer 6

If you are wiping/reloading each time...then you are causing no problems.  

Answer 7

You do not have much to worry about. The installation of an operating system holds no more effect on a computer's working parts than full time use. Just like anything else, you are erasing and creating files on the hard drive, viewing information on your monitor and typing on your keyboard. All of this is accomplished regardless of the fact that you are formatting the HDD and re-installing your OS.

If there is a reason that you keep re-installing Vista and Linux than you may want to post a question to right that wrong because I can only imagine the time and frustration spent backing up files, formatting drives and re-installing two different OS's this many times.