Does Clean Install Wipe All Drives Exclusive ✓

You should only choose this option if you are giving away or selling your computer and need to ensure your personal files cannot be recovered, as this process can take a very long time depending on the size of your drive. For a standard clean install, this intensive wipe is not necessary.

Power users often run scripts or use tools like diskpart to automate clean installs. A common script is: clean all (applied to disk 0) If the user does not properly check which disk is which, or if their second drive auto-assigns to Disk 0, the script wipes both drives.

Understanding how the process handles multiple storage drives is critical to preventing accidental data loss. How a Clean Install Interacts with Multiple Drives does clean install wipe all drives exclusive

| Action | Wipes Drive C? | Wipes Drive D? | Wipes External Drives? | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Yes (Target partition) | No | No (unless unplugged) | | Diskpart Clean | Yes (Entire physical disk) | Yes (if same disk) | Yes (if connected) | | Factory Reset (OEM) | Yes | Possibly | Possibly | | DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke) | Yes | Yes | Yes (everything) |

Even if the program files are located on a secondary drive, most traditional software installs crucial registry keys and system files onto the primary C: drive. You will need to rerun the installers for these programs to make them work again. Final Verdict You should only choose this option if you

Do you know if your secondary drives are ? I can give you specific instructions for your exact setup.

Before shutting down your computer to begin the installation, open your current OS file manager and note the exact size of each drive. You can also assign distinct names to your partitions (e.g., "OS_Drive," "Games_Drive"). While the custom names do not always appear in the bootloader installation menu, knowing the exact capacity down to the gigabyte helps you identify the correct drive. 3. Disconnect Secondary Drives (Highly Recommended) A common script is: clean all (applied to

The process for performing a clean install on a Mac differs significantly from Windows, but the core principle remains similar: by default, a clean macOS installation only wipes the startup drive, not all connected drives.

You have:

Make sure the USB drive or DVD is in good condition. Be patient: The installation process can take some time.

Before booting from your USB, physically disconnect the SATA or power cables from your secondary hard drives. If they aren't connected, the installer cannot touch them.