Hot! - Does Clean Install Wipe All Drives Exclusive

A clean install of Windows typically automatically wipe all of your drives

Sometimes, older Windows installations leave "System Reserved" or "EFI System" partitions on a secondary drive. If you start deleting partitions haphazardly to clear up space during the installation, you might accidentally wipe a partition that your secondary drive relies on, making its data difficult to recover. OneDrive or Cloud Sync Disconnections

However, catastrophic data loss can still happen if you make a wrong choice during the setup process. This comprehensive guide breaks down exactly how a clean install interacts with multiple drives, how to protect your secondary storage, and the exact steps to safely refresh your system. Understanding a Clean Install vs. Other Reset Options does clean install wipe all drives exclusive

Select the resulting "Unallocated Space" and click to begin the installation. Step 5: Reconnect Your Secondary Drives

Never modify operating system files without a backup. Copy your critical files to an external hard drive or a secure cloud storage service before proceeding. A clean install of Windows typically automatically wipe

This process removes the existing operating system, user settings, and applications from the target drive partition and replaces them with a fresh, blank version of the OS.

Select the partition that matches your identified boot drive. This comprehensive guide breaks down exactly how a

While the operating system will not wipe your secondary drives automatically,

Identify your primary drive by its size and disk number (usually Disk 0).

This misunderstanding carries significant consequences. The most benign is anxiety: users fearing total data loss may postpone a much-needed system refresh. More dangerous is the false sense of security. Someone selling or donating a computer might assume a simple clean install has erased their personal files from all drives, when in fact a secondary drive or partition still holds tax returns, private photos, or browsing history. True data destruction requires specialized software (like DBAN for HDDs) or physical destruction of the drive—not a routine OS reinstallation.

Never rely solely on the theory that your secondary drives are safe. Before formatting any part of your computer, back up your most important files to an external drive or a cloud storage service. Step 2: Disconnect Secondary Drives (The Safest Method)