I'm planning to completely wipe my PC and perform a clean Windows installation. The system has two SSDs, and I've heard it's best to disconnect any drive that won't contain the operating system during setup. Should I erase or format the secondary SSD before unplugging it, or will Windows installation wipe it automatically when I reconnect it afterward?
3 Answers
The secondary SSD will not be erased automatically. Windows only wipes or formats a drive when you explicitly select its partitions and choose the relevant install or format options. If you want to keep the files on that drive, disconnect it before starting the installation and reconnect it once Windows is set up.
There’s no need to wipe the secondary drive just because you’re reinstalling Windows. Back up anything important, leave the drive disconnected during installation if you want extra protection against selecting the wrong disk, and then reconnect it afterward. Only erase it if you actually want to remove its data.
If you no longer need anything stored on the second SSD, you can delete its partitions or format it from the Windows installer’s drive-selection screen. Just double-check the drive capacity and model first so you don’t accidentally erase the wrong disk.
So the main reason to disconnect it is to avoid confusing the two drives during setup, especially if they have similar capacities—not because Windows will wipe it automatically.