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.
Many users confuse "clean install" with "low-level format" or "zero-fill wipe." does clean install wipe all drives exclusive
| Action | Wipes Drive C? | Wipes Drive D? | Wipes External Drives? | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Clean Install (Windows) | 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) | Generally, yes
The exclusive nuance: If your Drive D is a partition on the same physical hard drive as Drive C (e.g., a 1TB drive split into C: 500GB and D: 500GB), then a clean install using the "Delete partition" function will wipe both C and D because they are on the same physical disk. You must select "Something else" or "Manual partitioning"
If Drive D is a separate physical SSD (different hardware), a clean install will never wipe it unless you manually click on it and press delete.
Short answer: No — a clean install typically only formats or overwrites the drive/partition you choose, not every drive attached to the system. However, whether other drives are affected depends on the installer, your actions, and the operating system. Read the rest for specifics and safe procedures.