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Obaileyy's avatar
Obaileyy
Copper Contributor
Feb 24, 2026

How can I wipe an ssd but keep Windows os installed on it?

The old SSD on my laptop is to small (256 GB) and I am going to replace it with a new SSD 1 TB.  Is there any safe way to wipe an SSD while keeping the operating system intact. The goal is to remove ...
Rupertmurd's avatar
Rupertmurd
Iron Contributor
Feb 24, 2026

Wiping an SSD while keeping the Windows operating system installed is possible by using the built-in "Reset this PC" feature with the "Remove everything" option, but with a crucial modification to ensure your data is truly unrecoverable . Standard deletion methods or even a basic reset only remove the pointers to your files, leaving the actual data on the drive and potentially recoverable with software tools.

To securely wipe an SSD but keep windows os, you need to enable a specific setting during the reset process that overwrites the deleted data, ensuring your personal information is permanently erased while leaving the Windows system files intact and functional.

1. Even though you want to keep Windows, a reset will delete all your personal files, apps, and settings . Before starting, ensure any photos, documents, or other data you wish to save are backed up to an external drive or cloud storage.

2. Open Settings and go to Update & Security (Windows 10) or System (Windows 11), then select Recovery . Click the "Reset PC" button.

3. When prompted, select "Remove everything" . This tells Windows you want to clear all personal data and apps, not just keep them.

4. Choose your reinstallation method (Cloud download or Local reinstall) . On the next screen, click on "Change settings".

5. Review the settings to ensure "Clean drive" or similar is listed, then click "Next" and finally "Reset" to begin the process . The computer will restart and the reset may take an hour or more, as it is securely wiping the drive while reinstalling Windows

To wipe an SSD clean of personal data while preserving the Windows operating system, use the "Reset this PC" feature found in Windows Recovery settings. Crucially, you must select "Remove everything" and then, within the "Change settings" menu, enable the option to clean the drive. This ensures all your personal files, apps, and settings are permanently overwritten and removed, leaving you with a fresh, secure installation of Windows.