User Scenario
"I recently bought a 1TB WD SN850 SSD with Acronis software. I want to clone my old 500GB SSD to the new one. However, it gets stuck after displaying 'Locking Drive C' and 'Preparing'. It stays like that even overnight, not allowing any operation. Can you help me fix this issue?"

Are you also troubled by the issue of Acronis True Image getting stuck while cloning, just as described above? Don't worry; you've come to the right place to find a solution immediately. Please refer to the troubleshooting methods below.

Solving the Issue of Acronis True Image Stuck While Cloning a Disk

The cloning process can be tiresome, and if you encounter the Acronis Disk Clone Wizard stuck issue, it might involve technical aspects that complicate the problem. You need a direct solution to address this issue. The instant fixes below can assist you; proceed to examine them in detail:

Don't want to try solutions one by one? You can skip straight to this part and use another disk cloning software, tools Todo Backup Free, an Acronis True Image alternative that ensures fast and secure disk cloning.

Fix 1: Clean up the disk before cloning

If you encounter the issue with Acronis Clone Disk Wizard getting stuck, you may choose to clean the drive before cloning. While this is not a mandatory step, it can ensure that the problem is resolved and the cloning process completes successfully.

Step 1: Click the “Start” button and open “Computer Management.” Access the Control Panel, then choose “System and Security.” Double-click on “Computer Management.”

Step 2: In the left pane, select “Disk Management” under “Storage.”

Step 3: Tap the storage you want to format, then tap the “Format” option.

Step 4: If you're using the default formatting, click "OK" in the "Format Cells" dialog box, and then click "OK" again.

Solution 2: Install the new hard drive in your computer

There are many different designs for laptops and desktops, which can be used with various methods to install a new hard drive. However, these methods are similar enough that they should work for most brands of hard drives. If Acronis True Image gets stuck while cloning, try this solution to fix the issue.

Let's say you have a 2-terabyte (TB) hard drive that you want to install in your computer.

Step one: Power down your computer and remove the new hard drive.

Next up, just translate the sentence into American English: "Uninstalling new drive"

Step 2: Next, prepare the new drive by unscrewing the screws on either side of its casing.

Then, slide the drive sled into the screw holes along the sides of the new drive.

If you're using an SSD, you'll need to add a special mounting bracket to secure it in the 3.5-inch bays, or use a drive adapter for the purpose.

Adding a specific installation slot

Step three: Take apart the desktop computer.

If the door is screwed on, remove the screws with a screwdriver.

Remove the desktop computer case

Step Four: Install the new drive in your computer case, right next to the old one.

Slide the new hard drive into the computer case.

Step 5: Connect the new drive to your computer's motherboard with an SATA cable, and plug in its power cable.

Connect the new hard drive

Step 6: After you've installed the case, restart your computer.

Solution 3: Create a bootable rescue media to start up from

If you are dealing with an Acronis Clone Disk Wizard that gets stuck, try the following solutions. In case your computer fails to boot up and contains crucial valuable data, you can use a rescue media for recovery. Let's see how to proceed:

Step 1: Click on “Tools,” and then select “Rescue Disk Builder.”

Rescue Media Builder

Step 2: Choose a method that includes creating media. You can pick from simple or advanced options. See what happens when you choose either.

Select the creation method:
Select the creation method

    • Simplicity

This is one of the most straightforward options available for beginners. Acronis True Image will choose the best media type for your PC. If you have Windows 7 or later, you'll see a WinRE-based media being created; otherwise, a Linux-based one will be made.

  • Advanced

Here, you can choose the media type to help you create recovery media for your PC and for PCs running different versions of Windows.

Select the media destination Select the media destination

Step 3: Next, you need to choose the destination for the media. You can select a USB flash drive, CD, DVD, or ISO image, and then click on the “Continue” option.

Fix 4: Close and restart Acronis True Image

Restart Acronis True Image

You may come across this issue when you want to clone WD SSD. As WD SSD doesn't come with cloning software, you can use Acronis True Image WD edition to replace the hard drive. However, if you encounter the Acronis True Image hanging problem during the cloning process, you can disable Secure Boot. To do so, you need to boot the Acronis computer.

Step 1: Press the Del key to enter BIOS after turning on your computer. Sometimes, you might need to press F2 or F12 instead.

Step 2: Next, look for the "Secure Boot" option in the BIOS. You can usually find it under the "Boot" or "Security" options.

Step 3: After disabling Secure Boot, press F10 to save your settings and exit the BIOS.

Fix 5. Try using an alternative tool to Acronis True Image – Disk Copy

"Disk Copy" can serve as an excellent alternative to "Acronis True Image," thanks to its appealing user interface. Its user-friendliness and simplicity in executing cloning tasks make it ideal for users ranging from beginners to advanced levels.

Please see its main features below:

Note: You must launch the disk duplication utility to complete the disk duplication or cloning process.

Step 1: Download, install, and run the Disk Copy tool on your computer. Click on the Disk Mode, then select the source disk that you wish to copy or clone. Click Next to proceed.

Note: If you want to copy or clone the source disk sector by sector, the target disk should be the same size as or larger than the source disk.

Select the source disk

Step 2. Select the target disk to which you want to clone/copy the old disk, and click “Next” to proceed.

Finish cloning or copying a disk to a new one.

Step 3: Review and edit the disk layout, with options to “Autofit to disk,” “Match source,” or “Edit disk layout.” Choose “Autofit to disk.”

The "Copy source" option copies the partition layout from the source disk to the target disk. The "Edit disk layout" option allows you to manually adjust or move the partition layout on the target disk.

If your target disk is an SSD, check the “If target is SSD, please check this option” box.

Click Continue to start the disk cloning or disk copying process immediately.

Select the target disk to clone or copy to

Comparative Analysis of Disk Copy and Acronis

  • Functionality: When Acronis Disk Clone Wizard fails to resolve stuck issues during reinstallation, Tool Disk Copy offers a more robust solution.
  • Performance: Unlike Acronis, Tool Disk Copy supports sector-by-sector cloning and allows you to customize the disk layout according to your needs.
  • Pricing: Tool Disk Copy provides various affordable pricing options for different users, whereas Acronis Disk Clone Wizard has premium plans that might be less budget-friendly.
  • Technical Support: Tool Disk Copy delivers faster technical support compared to Acronis Disk Clone Wizard.

That's why our pick goes to Disk Copy, which is a better disk-cloning tool.

【Tip】How to Ensure a Smooth Hard Drive Cloning Process

After comparing two great software options, let's look at some quick tips to ensure a smooth hard drive cloning process. Here are some suggestions you can follow:

    Initialize the disk before cloning: Make sure to remove any programs or temporary files you no longer need before cloning.
  • Compress the source drive partition: To clone a disk to a smaller target disk, you must shrink the source disk partition to ensure a successful operation.
    Verify the drive capacity: Make sure that the target disk has more space than the source drive.

Bottom line

As an Acronis user, you might encounter the issue of Acronis True Image freezing during its operation. This problem can stem from various reasons, and depending on the circumstances, different solutions may be required, which can be time-consuming and effort-intensive to identify. To address the issue of Acronis True Image hanging during cloning, we offer some troubleshooting tips to resolve this problem.

However, we highly recommend using a hard drive cloning tool for the job, as it allows you to clone multiple disks with ease. Plus, as a powerful and reliable disk cloning software, you can also use it for synchronization, backup, or recovery operations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Acronis Clone Disk Wizard Stuck Issues

After reading this article, you should have your questions answered. If you have any further inquiries, please refer to the FAQ section below.

Why does Acronis take so long?

Acronis may take a long time due to an external drive issue. This could be because the connected disk is improperly, outdated, or damaged, affecting read operations. Additionally, it can impact the performance of Acronis's user interface.

2. How long does Acronis take to clone a disk?

With a 500 GB drive, Acronis would take about 1.5 hours to clone it at a rate of 100 MB/s.

How to clone HDD to SSD with Acronis?

You can clone your HDD to an SSD using Acronis with the following steps:

    First, connect the SSD to your computer. Then click "Tools" and select "Clone Disk." Choose the recommended "Auto" mode for the transfer. Select the drive you want to clone, then click "Next." Now, choose the SSD as the target drive and click "Next" again. When prompted, click "OK" to confirm. Finally, click "Start" and wait for the process to complete.

How to use Acronis to migrate Windows 10 to an SSD?

Here are the steps to migrate Windows 10 to an SSD using Acronis True Image in American English: 1. First things first, ensure you've purchased and installed Acronis True Image on your PC. If not, download it from their official website. 2. Connect your SSD to your computer. If there's an open SATA slot, simply slide it in. If your setup supports a USB-to-SATA adapter, plug the SSD in that way. 3. Launch the Acronis True Image app. On the main screen, select "Clone" or "Copy Disk." 4. On the next screen, choose your current hard drive as the source and the newly connected SSD as the target. 5. Review the clone settings, confirming that all partitions will be transferred. If there are multiple partitions, verify that they're all checked. 6. Click "Continue" or "Start" to initiate the cloning process. This could take a while, depending on the size of your hard drive and the amount of data on it. 7. Once the cloning is complete, shut down your PC, disconnect the original drive, and install the SSD in the primary SATA slot on your motherboard. 8. Restart your computer. Since the boot sector might not update automatically, you might need to access the BIOS settings and change the boot order to start from the new SSD. 9. Save your changes and exit the BIOS. Your system should now boot from the SSD, indicating a successful migration. Keep in mind, this is a general guide, so specifics might vary slightly based on your PC model and the Acronis True Image version. Throughout the process, make sure to back up important data and follow the software's instructions.

    1. First, launch Acronis True Image OEM, click on "Tools," and then click on "Clone Disk." 2. Click on "Automatic method" and then press "Next." 3. Select the source disk and click "Next." 4. Choose the target SSD and then click "Next." 5. Select the cloning method you prefer. 6. Click on "Start" to initiate the process. 7. After the cloning begins, a notification will appear. 8. Once the cloning is complete, safely eject the SSD.