# computer junk **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 14, 2014, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-junk/681321 "2014-02-14T11:22:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-junk/681321/21 "2014-02-14T20:15:31Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Windows doesn’t rot. If you take steps to prevent malware and nasties from mucking up your system it will run just fine darn near forever. I have one machine running Windows 98 that has been going since the year 2001 and has never had a reinstall. I’d wager you’re not doing much with that machine - in my experience '98 required an annnual re-install, and I recently had to reformat even my Win7 box after a C++ library version mismatch hosed a few very specific programs. (And I pulled out all the stops on that - used to do XP phone support for Microsoft). For a friend’s machine, I’m unlikely to go spelunking in the registry or troubleshoot SxS issues, and after quizzing them on what data they _actually_ care about, they would easily be left with **stosh** ’s question. On the above note, just to be safe: **stosh** , everything means _everything_, including saved passwords, installed programs, Microsoft Office install keys, emails, photos, mp3s, games, game saves, game high-scores, etc. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-junk/681321/22 "2014-02-14T21:18:09Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > I’ve had Windows for 14 years now and the only problem I’ve ever noticed was paying $80 per year for anti-virus. So many good free anti-viruses why would you pay for one? Some are Microsoft Security Essentials, Malwarebytes, and SuperAntispyware. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-junk/681321.md?page=1)