Generally, yes. Linux installers also require you to partition drives manually. However, the interface is different. You must select "Something else" or "Manual partitioning" to ensure you only format the target drive. If you select "Erase disk and install Linux" with multiple drives connected, it may sometimes target the wrong drive depending on the distro. The "Physical Disconnect" method (Phase 1 above) is highly recommended for Linux beginners.
You manually choose which drive to format. Other drives are only affected if you deliberately select and format them in the "Custom" installation menu.
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. does clean install wipe all drives exclusive
A clean install is your best friend for fixing a slow, virus-ridden PC. But like any powerful tool, it respects your commands – even the wrong ones.
For enterprise or advanced users, there is an exclusive scenario where a clean install appears to wipe all drives, but actually just locks them. Generally, yes
For users with multiple physical drives, several best practices can ensure that your data remains safe during a clean installation.
However, there is a critical difference: during the Reset This PC process, you may be presented with an option that asks whether you want to remove files from "Only the drive where Windows is installed" or "All drives." If you choose "All drives," the reset will erase data from every connected drive—not just the system drive. By default, resetting your PC only deletes files from the drive where Windows is installed, but you must pay close attention to avoid selecting the "All drives" option. You must select "Something else" or "Manual partitioning"
During the installation phase, you will be presented with a menu asking, "Where do you want to install Windows?" (or the equivalent on macOS or Linux). This screen displays a list of all connected drives and their respective partitions, often labeled as Drive 0 Partition 1 , Drive 1 Partition 1 , and so on.
Any other internal hard disk drives (HDDs), secondary solid-state drives (SSDs), partition volumes, or external USB storage devices remain completely untouched by the installer. How a Clean Install Protects Secondary Drives
Select the partition that matches your identified boot drive.