Short answer: No. Windows Reset centers on the Windows installation, which is usually on the C drive, but the exact file scope depends on the reset choice you make. “Keep my files” preserves personal data while removing apps and settings, while “Remove everything” wipes personal files, apps, and settings in the chosen reset scope. (Microsoft Learn) (Microsoft Support) (Microsoft Learn)
Do not assume every reset behaves the same way. The C drive is the usual Windows system volume, but the reset prompts matter more than the drive letter alone. If you choose the wrong option, you can lose files you meant to keep.
Does Windows reset only affect C drive?
What Windows Reset changes by default
Windows Reset reinstalls the operating system fresh, returns Windows settings to their original state, and removes installed applications that do not come with Windows. It can also clear user profiles and accounts. On Windows 10 and Windows 11, the built-in reset flow is designed for recovery, cleanup, and a fresh start.
HP also notes that personal files may be removed depending on the option you choose, and that activation status typically remains. Hardware drivers may be preserved depending on the reset option, but you should not treat that as guaranteed for every device.
Why people think only C drive is affected
The confusion starts because the Windows install usually lives on C:. Reset prompts also talk about Windows, apps, and personal files instead of listing partitions one by one. So the menu can look like it is only touching the system drive even when the chosen option changes more than one kind of content.
Say your PC has Windows on C: and documents on a second internal drive. The reset wording still centers on Windows, so the real question is which reset option you selected, not just which drive letter holds the operating system.
What the reset options actually do
Keep my files reinstalls Windows while keeping your personal files intact. It removes apps and settings, but preserves documents, photos, and other personal data. Remove everything reinstalls Windows and removes personal files, apps, and settings from the selected scope.
Use the exact reset prompt as your guide. If the screen offers a choice about which drives or files to remove, stop and read it before confirming. That is the point where C-only behavior can change into a broader wipe.
Reset scope matrix
| Reset option | C drive/system partition | Secondary internal drives | External drives | Apps | Personal files | Risk notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keep my files | Yes — Windows is reinstalled on the system volume | Depends — verify whether the chosen reset path includes other drives | No, external backup media should stay separate | Yes, installed apps are removed | No, personal files are preserved on the reset target | Caveat: keep my files is not a full app-preserving restore. |
| Remove everything | Yes, Windows is reinstalled fresh | Depends, confirm the prompt before continuing if multiple drives are present | No, attached backup media should not be part of the reset target | Yes, apps are removed | Yes, personal files are removed in the chosen scope | Caveat: this is the option that can erase far more than settings. |
| Cloud download or local reinstall | Yes, the Windows image source changes, not the reset purpose | Depends, image source does not answer the drive-scope question by itself | No, external backup media remains outside the reset media source | Yes, apps are removed under the reset option you picked | Depends, follow the keep/remove choice you selected first | Caveat: the download source is separate from the wipe scope. |
If I reset Windows, will my D drive be deleted too?
Not by default on every reset path, but you should not assume the D drive is safe without checking the exact prompt. Microsoft’s reset flow is defined by the option you choose, and some reset paths are broader than a simple Windows-only repair. Read the screen that names the drives before you confirm.
If the D drive holds files you want to keep, copy them to another drive or cloud storage first. A quick check is better than finding out too late that the reset scope was wider than expected.
Practical check before you click reset
- Open Settings > System > Recovery in Windows 11, or Settings > Update & Security > Recovery in Windows 10.
- Select Reset this PC.
- Read the reset prompt for wording about all drives, only the Windows drive, or file removal.
- Back up files on D: that you cannot replace.
- Confirm only after the scope matches what you intended.
Does resetting Windows remove files on other partitions?
It can, depending on the reset path you choose and the prompts shown during setup. The built-in reset process always affects Windows itself, but the file-removal scope is not something you should guess from the partition label alone. Other partitions may be outside the reset target, or they may be included if you choose a broader wipe.
Picture a PC with C: for Windows and a separate data partition for photos. If the reset screen offers a broader removal choice, that partition is no longer something you should treat as automatically safe.
What to look for on the reset screen
Watch for wording that mentions keeping files, removing everything, or choosing which files and drives to remove. If the dialog includes an all-drives style choice, stop and recheck your backup. The wording on that screen is the only reliable guide at that moment.
What happens to apps and personal files during a Windows reset?
Installed applications that are not part of Windows are removed. Personal files may stay or be removed based on the option you pick. “Keep my files” preserves documents, photos, and other personal data while clearing apps and settings; “Remove everything” removes personal files along with apps and settings.
This is why users often back up before starting even when they expect to keep some files. The reset can change more than one content type at once, and the choice is made before the process begins.
Best backup targets before you start
- Documents, photos, and videos that you cannot replace.
- Passwords, product keys, and network settings you may need after the reset.
- Downloads and project folders if they contain work in progress.
- BitLocker recovery key if your device is encrypted.
Does Windows reset keep drivers installed?
Drivers may be preserved depending on the reset option, but that is not a guarantee you should rely on for every hardware setup. After a reset, the most common follow-up issue is that some devices may need their drivers reinstalled or updated. Keep device-specific installers handy if the PC uses uncommon hardware.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 both support the reset flow, but either one can still leave you needing to check device manager after the first boot. Plan for that possibility before you start.
How to reset only the C drive in Windows 10
Use Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC, then choose the option that keeps the reset limited to the Windows installation rather than any broader wipe. On Windows 10, the built-in path starts from system settings, and the prompts decide whether you keep files or remove them.
You cannot safely assume “C drive only” from the name alone. The choice on the reset screen controls the scope, so read that step slowly before you continue.
Windows 10 reset steps
- Open Settings.
- Select Update & Security.
- Select Recovery.
- Under Reset this PC, select Get started.
- Choose Keep my files or Remove everything after checking the prompt text.
Will a Windows reset remove everything from the PC?
Not always. “Keep my files” preserves your personal data while removing apps and settings. “Remove everything” is the option that clears personal files, apps, and settings in the selected scope. Windows 10 and Windows 11 both support this reset flow from built-in settings.
So the answer is not a blanket yes. It depends on the reset option, and on whether the prompt expands the wipe beyond the Windows installation.
What should I back up before resetting Windows?
Back up documents, photos, videos, downloads, passwords, product keys, and network details before you start. An external hard drive is the best simple choice for larger backups, cloud storage works well for files you want off the device, and a USB flash drive is practical for smaller sets of data.
HP recommends having at least 10GB of storage space before resetting, and having power and internet ready helps avoid interruptions. If the device uses BitLocker, make sure you have the recovery key too.
Simple backup order
- Copy the files you cannot replace to an external hard drive.
- Save smaller, important folders to cloud storage or a USB flash drive.
- Write down Wi‑Fi passwords and software product keys.
- Confirm you have the BitLocker recovery key if the device is encrypted.