Does Clean Install Wipe All Drives Exclusive Jun 2026

During a clean install, delete only partitions on the system drive (often labeled as Drive 0). Do not touch any other drive or partition. When all partitions on the system drive are deleted, the whole drive will be listed as "Unallocated Space." Select that space, then click Next to begin the installation.

A clean install using bootable USB media provides more control than the Reset This PC feature. With a clean install, you are never presented with an "All drives" option because the installer only shows you the drives and partitions that exist. You must manually choose which partitions to delete, giving you precise control over what stays and what goes. This makes a clean install safer for users with multiple drives, provided you pay attention during the drive selection phase. does clean install wipe all drives exclusive

To understand why your secondary drives are safe, we must define the terms. During a clean install, delete only partitions on