Every time I reinstall windows on my laptop, where does all that data go

When you reinstall Windows on your laptop, the fate of the data depends on how you perform the reinstallation and the options you choose. Here are some common scenarios: 1. **Clean Install**: If you perform a clean installation of Windows and choose to format the system drive (typically the C: drive), all data on that drive will be deleted. This includes: - Your operating system files - User accounts and profile data - Installed programs - Any personal files, such as documents, photos, and downloads, located on that drive 2. **Upgrade Installation or Repair Install**: If you choose to upgrade an existing installation or perform a repair install (which may not format the drive), your files may remain intact. However: - System files will be replaced or repaired. - Some applications and settings might be retained. 3. **Reset This PC**: If you use the "Reset this PC" feature in Windows (available in the settings), you typically have options to either keep your personal files or remove everything. If you choose to keep your files, Windows will attempt to remove applications and settings while preserving your personal data. If you select the option to remove everything, it will function similarly to a clean install. 4. **Data on Other Partitions**: If you have other partitions on your hard drive (e.g., a D: drive for data), that data should remain unaffected unless you specifically format or delete those partitions during the installation process. In summary, during a clean install, all data on the specified drive is erased and cannot be recovered easily unless you have backups. In other types of installation, the data may be preserved. It's always a good practice to back up important files before reinstalling an operating system.