Yes, there is a safe way to clone a GPT disk in Windows 10. You can use built-in tools or third-party software for this purpose. Here's a simple method using the built-in Disk Management utility: 1. Backup your important data: Before proceeding with any disk cloning process, ensure that you have backed up all essential files and data. 2. Get an external hard drive or another internal SSD/HDD with equal or larger capacity than your source GPT disk. 3. Connect the target drive to your Windows 10 computer. 4. Open Disk Management: - Press `Win + X` and choose 'Disk Management' from the menu. - Alternatively, search for "Create and format hard disk partitions" in the Start menu, and click on the result. 5. In the Disk Management window, right-click on the source GPT disk (the one you want to clone) and select "Copy Disk". 6. Follow the on-screen instructions to choose the target disk (your external or secondary drive). Make sure you select the correct destination as cloning will erase all existing data on the target disk. 7. Wait for the cloning process to complete. This may take some time depending on the size of your data. 8. Once done, verify the cloned data by accessing it. 9. If everything looks good, you can safely disconnect the original GPT disk and use the cloned disk as a replacement. For more advanced options or if the built-in tool doesn't work for you, you can use third-party cloning software like Clonezilla, Acronis True Image, or Macrium Reflect, which offer additional features and flexibility. Always read the software documentation and follow their instructions carefully.

Cloning a GPT disk in Windows 10 is more challenging than cloning an MBR partition disk. Occasionally, you may encounter an error message stating that winload.efi is missing from Windows when attempting to boot from the cloned disk, despite a successful cloning process. To address this issue, we recommend using a third-party cloning software called Disk Copy. This tool enables you to effortlessly and securely clone GPT disks in Windows 10. It's particularly useful for users who don't wish to invest in expensive cloning software that they might only use once.

Tip
Don't forget to create a WinPE disk. This is needed to set up a WinPE environment for cloning a GPT disk. If you need guidance, please refer to this page: create a WinPE disk.

Clone GPT Disk in Windows 10 with Cloning Tools

Tools Disk Copy provides various cloning options, such as disk cloning, system cloning, and partition cloning. It features a user-friendly interface, allowing you to clone a GPT hard drive with ease through simple clicks. Additionally, it boasts numerous advanced cloning functions, including sector-by-sector cloning and hard drive cloning. Try Tools Disk Copy for free now!

Step 1. Download, install, and run the Disk Copy tool on your PC.

Click "Disk Mode" and choose the hard drive that you wish to copy or clone. Then, click "Next" to proceed.

select the hard drive that you want to clone

Step 2. Choose the target disk.

Important: If you're copying or cloning the source disk, the target disk should be at least as large as the source disk, or even larger.

select the destination disk

Step 3. Check and edit the disk layout.

If your destination disk is an SSD drive, make sure to check the option for optimizing for SSD.

confirm the message

Step 4. Click "OK" to confirm if the program prompts to erase data on the target disk.

Check the disk layout

Step 5. Click "Proceed" to initiate the hard drive cloning process.

Click

Bonus Tip: What's the Difference between GPT and MBR?

GPT stands for GUID Partition Table. It is the standard format for the partition table on physical computer storage devices like HDDs or SSDs. Due to the limitations of the Master Boot Record (MBR) partition table, GPT is part of the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) standard and is also utilized in certain BIOS systems.

The image below demonstrates the contents of a GPT disk, comprising a primary GPT partition table, regular partitions, and a secondary GPT partition table.

GPT Scheme

Upon understanding what a GPT disk is, let's delve into its notable features. Compared to an MBR disk, a GPT disk has two prominent advantages:

1. GPT with UEFI replaces the outdated BIOS and the MBR partitioning system with a more modern and efficient setup.

2. GPT breaks through the limitations of MBR.

The storage capacity of GPT disks is significantly greater than that of MBR disks, enabling users to create an unlimited number of partitions. However, it's important to note that if it's a GPT system disk, you can create a maximum of 128 partitions.

Try out Disk Copy A right now!

Now you know the simplest way to clone a GPT disk. Download the tool Disk Copy now, and you'll be able to clone your GPT disk effortlessly. Additionally, it can also assist you in