What will "Reset Your PC" do to files on my second drive (data drive)

I have an intermittent issue with my laptop. I contacted Lenovo about this and they recommend Resetting the PC. I have looked at the options for resetting the PC and decided the option I need is: Keep my files > Change settings > Preinstalled apps On

I have 2 SSDs on my system. The first is the Boot SSD which contains the OS and nothing else. The second is an SSD that contains all my data and downloaded program install files. If I 'reset the PC' will the reset procedure delete all the files on my second SSD? Or will the reset only alter the boot SSD?

Obviously I only want the Boot SSD to be altered and the Data SSD to be untouched.

In nearly all cases seen on the Internet it turns out to be best to disconnect any drives except the boot/system drive, get Windows working then reconnect them. This does not apply to RAID setups that use 2 drives, removing one can break the system.

BuddhaNature said:

I have an intermittent issue with my laptop.

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What is the problem you are having? Maybe we can help.

It should leave the other drive untouched, but its not guaranteed. It is always best to remove any drives to ensure they are not altered. It can't hurt to backup your files either.

You could also try a repair install instead, which keeps all your programs and data:

Use option 2 here:

andrew129260 said:

It should leave the other drive untouched, but its not guaranteed. It is always best to remove any drives to ensure they are not altered. It can't hurt to backup your files either.

You could also try a repair install instead, which keeps all your programs and data.

Use option 2 here:

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This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

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I agree with Andrew. Unless you know how to open your laptop and remove the drive, an in-place would be the ticket.

Are the reset options you mention a part of Lenovo? If so I’d guess would be fine. Still, better to be safe than sorry.

antspants said:

Are the reset options you mention a part of Lenovo? If so I’d guess would be fine. Still, better to be safe than sorry.

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I'm assuming they are talking about this built into windows, not a lenovo tool (and not bad advice from the manufacturer to be honest):


Seeing as how they mentioned this:

BuddhaNature said:

Keep my files > Change settings > Preinstalled apps On

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Thank you for the responses.

This is a brand new laptop. The problem with it is that there is an intermittent problem with a USB wired mouse that when the system boots in from cold-startup (I.e. not a system 'reboot') sometimes the mouse gets 'mounted' and sometimes fails to get mounted. I have tried for three days to fix this problem myself with three brand new mice, and with the help of the internet. That has been unsuccessful.

This morning I got Lenovo to connect to my laptop and the tech, in trying to resolve the issue, reinstalled the chipset drivers and the serial drivers. Also he set the USB Root Hub (USB 3.0) to not "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". The tech then said try this for a couple of days and see if that fixes the issue. Those changes did not fix the issue. I did a couple of test boots and the problem recurred.

I phoned Lenovo again today and reported the other tech's fix didn't work — what to do now? He said to do a factory reset. If the issue is fixed then the problem is a software problem. If the issue isn't fixed then it is a hardware problem.

As things stand with this being a brand new laptop there is no way I want to open the casing and remove the data drive — so I've now backed-up my documents and will just have to hope that the system reset doesn't touch the second SSD.

Wish me luck, please!

Try3 said:

Do try a different USB mouse first before going to all that effort.


Best of luck,
Denis

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He did.

BuddhaNature said:

I have tried for three days to fix this problem myself with three brand new mice

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I assume when you say "mounted", the usb mouse does not work? What about a flash drive or another usb device? Try using a flash drive to see if it to does not work after a few cold starts.

Also, just so you know, windows does not do a fresh boot anymore since windows 8 with a shutdown and turning it back on. Only with a restart from the power menu will an actual fresh boot take place.

Have you tried going into the touchpad settings? You can also try the key combo most laptops have a function key at the top to disable the trackpad so you can use the mouse. Try the repair install I suggested then, so you dont waste time reinstalling all of your programs.

Use option 2 here:

BuddhaNature said:

I have tried for three days to fix this problem myself with three brand new mice, and with the help of the internet. That has been unsuccessful.

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That’s no good.
If Lenovo wants/asked you to factory reset then you should factory reset for warranty purposes.
Buy an external drive, back up everything on the secondary drive. That’s the safest, but it should only affect the main drive where your OS is.

Used to be the BIOS supported USB 2 ports 'natively' and relied upon the OS loading drivers to get support for USB 3 ports. Have seen a few new machines that have combined ports so don't know about your Lenovo, mine is older.
USB 2 port/plug centers are black, USB 3 centers are blue. Combos may be black, have heard of red ports. Most mice and keyboards are USB 2 but may work in USB 3 ports. I seldom have the issue with mice as I use Bluetooth wireless. In starting to clean out old things came across a Lenovo keyboard, apparently for a tablet, that is USB rechargable and Bluetooth connection, works, gonna see if it works with my Smartphone.

Well I did the Factory Reset and that went fine in as much as my Data SSD wasn't affected at all. Changes made were only to the Boot SSD.

However, after the reset and a few test cold boots my USB/mouse problem recurred. So, as far as the last Lenovo tech that spoke with said, that means the issue is a hardware problem.

Into the bargain of that after the reset I found I had a new problem: I couldn't access any settings for Windows Security settings. If I open up Windows Security all get a is a window with no content at, all just a blank-white window.

I'll leave things at that for now and contact Lenovo again tomorrow. Hopefully they will offer a new replacement laptop as the one I have has a hardware problem.

Thanks for all the responses!