Remove all USB thumb drives, SD cards, and external HDDs.
When you perform a clean install using a USB boot drive, you eventually reach a screen asking,
A clean install is It is not a global command that nukes every bit of storage connected to your motherboard. However, because the interface can be confusing, the safest bet is to unplug your data drives before you begin. does clean install wipe all drives exclusive
If you have three identical 1TB Samsung SSDs, it is incredibly easy to delete a partition on the wrong drive. The installation media doesn't always label them as "Games" or "Work"; it labels them as Drive 0, Drive 1, and Drive 2 .
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. Remove all USB thumb drives, SD cards, and external HDDs
Once you are back at the desktop, shut down and plug your drives back in. Windows will recognize them immediately, and your files will be right where you left them.
Run the clean install on your lone remaining SSD. If you have three identical 1TB Samsung SSDs,
This is where your OS lives. To do a "clean" install, you typically delete the partitions on this drive, turning it into "Unallocated Space." This wipes the data on that specific drive .
The short answer is , but with a very important "it depends" regarding how you configure the setup. The Short Answer: It Only Wipes What You Tell It To
