I'm new to reinstalling Windows and want to perform a clean Windows 11 installation using a bootable USB drive. At the installation screen, Disk 0 contains several system, OS, recovery, and restore partitions, while Disk 1 is the USB installer. Should I delete only the existing OS partition, or remove all partitions on Disk 0 and let Windows recreate them? I want to make sure I don't accidentally delete the USB installer or choose the wrong drive.
2 Answers
You can remove all of the partitions on the internal drive, including the old recovery and manufacturer restore partitions, if you no longer need the factory recovery setup. Deleting only the OS partition may leave old boot or recovery partitions behind. Double-check the drive sizes and labels before deleting anything, because the process permanently erases the selected partitions.
If you want a completely clean installation, first make sure you’ve backed up anything important. Then delete every partition on Disk 0 until it shows as a single block of unallocated space. Select that unallocated space and click Next; Windows will create the required system and recovery partitions automatically. Do not delete anything on Disk 1, since that is the USB installer.
Got it, thanks. I’ll make sure anything important is backed up before wiping Disk 0.
The important distinction is to wipe Disk 0 only. Leave the ESD-USB partition on Disk 1 alone, then install to the unallocated space on Disk 0.