Clone Hard Drive with Paid/Free Disk Cloning Software Windows 10/Windows 11

Quick Steps: How to Use Windows 10 Cloning Software 1. **Select Cloning Software**: First, choose a reliable Windows 10 cloning tool, such as Acronis True Image, tools Todo Backup, or AOMEI Backupper. Make sure the software is compatible with your system. 2. **Download and Install**: Visit the official website of the software and download the version suitable for Windows 10. Follow the installation wizard's instructions to install it. 3. **Launch the Software**: After installation, double-click the shortcut on your desktop to start the cloning software. 4. **Create a Backup**: In the main interface of the software, find and click on "Create Backup" or "Clone" option, which is usually located in the menu bar or home screen. 5. **Select Source Disk**: In the pop-up window, choose the hard drive you want to clone (typically the system drive C:). 6. **Choose Destination Disk**: Next, select the location where you want to clone your system, which can be another internal hard drive, an external hard drive, or a network storage device. 7. **Set Options**: Customize your cloning options as needed, such as full disk clone or cloning only the system partition, and whether to resize the target disk. 8. **Start Cloning**: Confirm all settings and click "Start Clone" or "Backup Now." The cloning process may take some time, depending on the speed of the source and target disks. 9. **Monitor Progress**: During the cloning process, the software will display a progress bar and an estimated remaining time. Do not turn off your computer while cloning. 10. **Completion and Verification**: Once the cloning is complete, you can choose to restart your computer immediately to verify the new system. Ensure the system on the new hard drive boots and runs normally. Please note that cloning operations might involve data loss, so back up important files before starting. If unsure, seek assistance from a professional.

Step 1: Launch the disk cloning software and click “Clone”. Then select the source hard drive that you want to clone.

Step 2: Select the target disk.

Step 3. Preview the disk layout after cloning. Finally, click “Continue” to clone one hard drive to another with one click.

Why Would a Windows User Need to Clone a Hard Drive?

Are you planning to upgrade your old hard drive to a new one? Is it possible to migrate the operating system to SSD? How to make a clone of a hard drive? How to upgrade the OS without boot failure? Is there a safe and easy way to transfer data and upgrade to a more advanced and larger hard drive? Or is there any Windows 10 PC cloning software that can clone Windows 10 system disk?

Instead of reinstalling Windows and loading all your apps again, it's safer and more convenient to clone your operating system drive or another non-system disk to a new one. That's why you need to know how to clone a hard drive in Windows 10. If you know how to clone, you can:

• Upgrade to a new or larger HDD or SSD
• Migrate Windows 10 to an SSD
• Create an exact clone of a disk or partition
• Transfer data to another storage device

Does Windows 10 have cloning software? The answer is no. To clone Windows 10 to a new hard drive or clone a hard drive, you'll need a reliable and trustworthy application. Here are the best choices we've found for Windows 10 disk cloning software.

• 1. Tool: Disk Cloning
• 2. Acronis True Image
• 3. Paragon Drive Copy
• 4. Macrium Reflect
• 5. Clonezilla

We tested and reviewed over 10 Windows 10 disk cloning software in terms of overall performance, cloning speed, compatible hard drive types, and more. Here are the specific figures from our tests.

Top 1. Windows 10/11 Hard Drive Cloning Software - Disk Copy (Paid)

A disk cloning tool is a top disk cloning software that is perfect for cloning hard drives. The software is straightforward, clean, and the download process is direct. With this tool, you can freely clone disks on Windows 10/8/7, even Windows Server, and enjoy advanced features such as:

• Supports disk/partition cloning
• Supports OS cloning
• Supports scheduled disk cloning
• Supports cloning OS to portable external USB devices
• Makes cloned OS/HDD/SSD bootable after cloning
• BEST SSD cloning software

Unlike simple copy and paste, cloning allows you to boot your computer and programs normally without having to reinstall the system and other apps. Cloning is an added feature of disk cloning tools that you can also use for backing up and restoring Windows 10.

Highlight:

• Clone entire hard drive for secure upgrade and replace the old one
• Copy data from one hard drive to another without losing anything
• Clone system drive to migrate operating system in Windows 10/8.1/8/7
• Create a disk image to make an exact copy

Here's how to clone an HDD/SSD in Windows 10.

How to Clone a Hard Drive on Windows 10/11 Using Cloning Software Cloning your hard drive on Windows 10 or 11 ensures the safety of your data and facilitates easy migration of your system and files during upgrades, replacements, or repairs. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to accomplish this task using a cloning software called tools Todo Backup: 1. **Download and Install tools Todo Backup:** - Visit the tools website (https://www.tools.com/), find Todo Backup, and download the version compatible with Windows 10/11. - Install the software, following the on-screen instructions. 2. **Launch the Software:** - After installation, open tools Todo Backup. 3. **Select "Disk Clone" Feature:** - On the main interface, click the "Disk Clone" option. 4. **Choose the Source Hard Disk:** - In the popup window, select the hard drive you want to clone as the "Source Disk." 5. **Select the Target Hard Disk:** - Click "Target Disk," then choose the hard drive you wish to clone to from the list. Ensure that the target disk has a capacity equal to or greater than the source disk. 6. **Preview and Start Cloning:** - The software will display the layout of both the source and target disks. Confirm the settings and click "Start Clone." - There may be an option to adjust partition sizes to fit the target disk. Choose accordingly. 7. **Wait for the Cloning Process to Complete:** - The cloning process might take some time, depending on the size and speed of the source disk. Do not turn off the power or shut down the computer during this time. 8. **Verify the Cloning Result:** - After cloning is complete, restart your computer and check if the new hard drive is functioning properly, with all data and the system intact. 9. **(Optional) Safely Remove the Old Hard Drive:** - If you've replaced the hard drive, make sure to safely remove the old one to prevent data exposure. Please note that different cloning software might have varying interfaces and steps, but the general process remains similar. Always back up important data and consult the software's user manual or online help for a smooth experience.

When it comes to cloning an old hard drive to a newer, bigger one, Disk Copy is right up there as one of the best choices thanks to its user-friendly and powerful features. It's one of the simplest disk cloning utilities that lets you migrate your operating system to another drive with just a few clicks.

Advance notice:

• Sector-by-sector copy requires the target disk to be the same size or larger than the source disk. Uncheck this option if you want to clone a larger hard drive to a smaller one. • All data on the target disk will be completely erased. Proceed with caution.

Step 1: To start copying/ cloning an entire disk to another, select the disk in Disk Mode, then click Next.

Step 2: Select another disk as the target disk.

Step 3. Check the disk layout of two disks. You can choose to "Adapt to Disk", "Same as Source", or "Edit Disk Layout" to manage the target disk's layout.

• "Automatically resize partitions" makes some default changes to the target disk layout to optimize it.
• "Copy as source" doesn't change anything on the target disk, and the layout is the same as the source disk.
• "Edit partition layout" lets you manually adjust/move the partition layout on the target disk.

Check “Perform this check if the target is an SSD” to ensure best performance from your SSD.

A warning message appears, alerting you to the fact that your data will be lost. Confirm the message by clicking OK, and then click Next.

Step 4: Click “Proceed” to actually carry out the task.

Video Tutorial: How to Clone and Replace a Hard Drive | Best cloning software for Microsoft Windows

How to Migrate Your Operating System to an SSD Using Cloning Software

You can easily migrate your Windows 11/10/8/7 operating system to another disk. Please follow the steps shown in the video:

Move your operating system to an SSD

 

User Feedback:

Backup your important data for free with Todo Backup! Join the giveaway event by @tools on @MalwareTipscom for a chance to win license keys! Don't wait, participate now: https://t.co/pZW5DKWoJG — hakah (@hakahw) March 19, 2023

Are you looking for a free Samsung cloning software? Click here to get more detailed information.

Second place: Acronis Disk Director for Windows 10 – Disk Cloning (Paid)

Acronis Disk Director offers a set of powerful tools that work together to optimize disk usage and protect your data. With this dedicated disk cloning software, you can move your data, operating system, and applications from an old basic MBR disk to a replacement drive. In addition to cloning a Windows 10 hard drive, the cloning software supports a range of services.

Highlight:

• Offer disk cloning functionality in Windows 10
• Manage disks, including formatting, resizing partitions, and merging partitions
• Recover lost or deleted data partitions

A demo is available for download, but it works only with disks smaller than 100 MB – too small for serious use – and the installation is a lengthy process.

Related Reading: Best Windows 7 Disk Clone Software | How to Clone Windows 10 to SSD

Top 3. Clone Hard Drive with Paragon Drive Copy (Paid)

Another handy cloning software for Windows 10 users is Paragon Drive Copy. It helps you migrate your data or home OS from any source disk to any target disk. The software covers all disk management tasks, including disk cloning of entire drives and advanced operations.

Highlight:

• Create backups, manage partitions, and migrate data
• Migrate your operating system to a new computer and start working immediately
• Clone your operating system to a USB flash drive and use it anywhere

This paid utility will help you organize your disk, create backups, and migrate data properly.

?Read More: How to Clone Operating System in Windows 11/10/8/7 | How to Clone a Drive with Bad Sectors (HDD/SSD)

4th Place: Macrium Reflect (Paid) - Windows 10 Software with a 30-Day Free Clone Trial

< a href="https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Macrium Reflect is a free solution for data backup, disk imaging, and cloning. It lets you protect your data, upgrade your hard disks, or try out new operating systems without worry, as everything is safely stored in an image file on your destination disk that can be quickly restored.

Highlight:

• Clone an HDD or SSD to another HDD or SSD
• Backup files and folders for data protection
• Support for system recovery when unbootable
• Fast incremental cloning by copying file system increments for speedier cloning

You can use this software to clone a hard drive partition, making it easy to upgrade your hard drive.

You may also like: Top Free Disk Cloning Software to Clone Disk | Upgrade to Larger Hard Drive

#5 Clonezilla – Free Hard Disk Cloning Software

As an open source cloning software and a free disk cloning software for Windows 10, Clonezilla can help you perform disk copy or cloning, bare metal backup and recovery, etc. Clonezilla only saves and recovers used blocks on the hard drive, thereby improving cloning efficiency. However, the target disk space or partition must be equal to or larger than the source disk. You cannot clone a large capacity disk to a smaller one.

Highlight:

• You can get it for free
• You can run it from a USB drive or CD
• It lets you clone, create images, or manage partitions

Conclusions

The list above showcases the best free and reliable disk cloning software you can use to clone Windows 10/11. Cloning Windows 10/11 or creating a system backup is one of the best ways to ensure you have a fallback solution. Pick a cloning tool to make sure your disk cloning goes smoothly. A disk duplication tool is an excellent utility that you shouldn't miss out on.

Are you looking for a way to clone a hard drive without software? This guide will walk you through the process step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions - Creating a Windows 10 Hard Drive Clone

Is cloning faster than copying?

The fastest method depends on the number of files and disk utilization. Cloning just reads and writes bits. If you're copying large files, cloning is the better choice. The only thing that can slow it down is disk usage.

If you have only a few files, it's always been faster to copy them from one disk to another than to clone the disk.

Does cloning a hard drive copy the operating system?

Yes, that's correct. Cloning a hard drive means copying all the data from an HDD/SSD to another location, which includes the Windows 7/8/10 operating system, installed programs, settings, and personal files.

**What is the best cloning software?**

Top 5 Hard Drive Cloning Software [Ranked for 2022]

• Disk cloning tool
• Acronis Disk Director
• Paragon Drive Copy
• Macrium Reflect
• Clonezilla

How do I clone a disk in Windows 10?

The steps to clone a disk in Windows 10 are as follows: 1. Prepare the tools: You'll need a reliable disk cloning software, such as tools Todo Backup, Acronis True Image, or the built-in Windows Disk Management tool (which has limited functionality). 2. Connect the target disk: Ensure you have a new or blank hard drive and connect it to your computer via a USB interface or an internal SATA port. 3. Launch the cloning software: - If using tools Todo Backup or Acronis True Image, install and run the software, then choose "Disk Clone" or a similar option. - If using Windows Disk Management, press Win + X, and then select "Disk Management." 4. Select the source disk: In the software, choose the original hard drive you want to clone as the source disk. 5. Choose the target disk: From the list, select the newly connected target disk as the recipient of the clone. 6. Start the cloning process: Follow the software's prompts to initiate the cloning. Some software may offer additional options, like adjusting partition sizes to fit the target disk. 7. Wait for completion: The cloning process may take some time, depending on the size and speed of the source disk. Do not disconnect the target disk during this time. 8. Verify the clone: After it's done, use File Explorer to check the contents of the target disk to ensure the clone was successful. 9. (Optional) Replace the original disk: If your goal is to replace the original disk, shut down your computer, disconnect the source disk, and then install the target disk as the new primary disk. Please note that the cloning operation will copy all data from the source disk, including the operating system, programs, and personal files. Before proceeding, make sure the target disk is large enough to accommodate all content from the source disk, and back up important data just in case.

Step 1: Launch the Disk Copy tool on your computer and select “Clone” from the left side.

Step 2. Select the disk or partition that you want to clone.

Click “Start” to begin cloning the hard drive to the partition.

What is Operating System Cloning? Operating system cloning refers to the process of creating an exact copy of an existing operating system. This copy, also known as a clone, includes all the settings, applications, files, and configurations of the original system. The purpose of cloning is for backup or migration purposes, or to rapidly deploy the same operating environment across multiple devices. There are several types of cloning: 1. **Hard drive cloning**: Copying the entire hard drive to another drive or storage device, including the OS, applications, and data. 2. **System image cloning**: Creating an exact replica of the operating system partition, usually saved as a file, which can be used to restore the system to a specific state. 3. **Network cloning**: Distributing an operating system installation from a central server to multiple computers over a network. Operating system cloning can be accomplished using various tools, such as Ghost, Clonezilla, Acronis True Image, among others. These tools typically provide graphical user interfaces or command-line options, allowing users to customize and automate the cloning process according to their needs.

A clone is essentially a backup, so the software you use to create one is similar.