"Guide to Multitasking: How to Clone a Hard Drive"

1. Concepts to Know Before Cloning a Hard Drive

Disk cloning typically happens when users want to upgrade their hard drive or create a full backup of important data. Whatever the reason, disk cloning means copying the source disk exactly to the target disk. Hold on! Since copying can also create an exact replica of the target disk, what then is the difference between cloning and copying?

Cloning and Copying

Clone: When you clone a drive, you're not just copying over files and data; you're also duplicating the partition layout, operating system (if present), apps, downloads, settings, and all.

Cloning: When you clone a hard drive, you get an exact copy of it, with all the visible files.

Another scenario is when you need to transfer or back up files from one disk to another, and you surely want it to be faster. So, how do you move files faster? Is cloning faster than copying? Here's the answer.

In most cases, copying is faster than cloning, because cloning reads and writes every block on the drive, including empty ones, whereas copying only deals with data.

However, if the source HDD contains many fragmented files (files that have been deleted or modified within the last few days), then cloning might be better. Copying fragmented files can require a lot of physical seeking (moving the I/O head to different locations on the disk). As such, copying the files may take longer than cloning the entire drive.

Cloning versus Full Machine Backup

When the terms “clone” and “backup” are used together, confusion often ensues. Though they sound like entirely different concepts, they do have something in common:

• Both can create an exact copy of data and the operating system.
• Both require additional drives to save the source disk data.
• Both backup images and cloned drives can be used for recovery purposes.

Given these three characteristics, it's no wonder that non-IT professionals have a hard time deciding whether they want to clone a drive or create an image backup. If you're still unsure which one is right for you, we've listed some recommendations below to help you decide.

1. Cloning creates an exact replica of a hard drive, while backup saves selected files as an image file (like a .pbd file) to another drive. 2. Cloning duplicates everything on the hard drive, including disk layout, whereas backup only copies data such as files or the operating system. 3. Cloning requires a physical, empty, and larger-than-used-space-on-source-hard-drive disk, while a backup image is much smaller and can be stored on a local, network, NAS, or cloud storage. 4. A cloned disk with an operating system can be booted directly, whereas a system backup image can only be utilized through a recovery process. 5. Cloning is a one-time operation, whereas backup is typically an ongoing process.

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II. Cloning Process Step 1: Connect the secondary hard drive to your computer

The first step in cloning a hard drive is to connect both the source and target drives to the same computer. Depending on their types, these can be HDD or SSD. Within SSDs, you'll find SATA SSD, M.2 SSD, and NVMe SSD, among others, in the market. Each type connects differently. In this section, we'll cover all possibilities and guide you on how to connect a new hard drive to your computer before cloning.

1. Connect the HDD to your computer

If you're using a laptop, skip this step. Most HDDs are meant for desktop computers, and your laptop won't have the room to install one.

Here are the tools you'll need to connect the HDD: a power cable, an SATA cable, and a screwdriver to open the case of your PC. Make sure you have all these items, then proceed with installing the HDD in your computer according to the guide.

Turn off the computer, unplug everything from the back, and open up the case with a screwdriver. You may need to remove and reposition the tray that holds the computer's guts in place.

Slide the hard drive into the sled, making sure the connector is facing down.

Step three: Hook up the power and the SATA cable to the hard drive, which is easy – just find the right slots.

Step 4: Push the drive back into its slot on the sled, with the cable connected.

Step 5: Feed the power cable and SATA cable through the case and connect them to their ports.

Step 6: You can now close up the case and prepare to clone.

2. Connect the SSD to your computer

Newer than HDDs, SSDs are faster and more durable. Unlike an HDD, different SSDs have different interfaces, mainly SATA and M.2. An SSD can be used in both a laptop or desktop computer. Here, we will discuss how to connect an SSD to each type of computer separately.

What's the Difference: NVMe vs SSD?

In recent years, a new type of hard drive called NVMe SSD has emerged as a strong contender against SSDs. What are the differences between these two types of drives? In what ways does NVMe outperform SSD? In this article, we will delve into the details of NVMe SSD and regular SSD to help you make a choice.

On the desktop version:

Step 1: Just like with an HDD, you'll need a power cable, a SATA data cable, and a screwdriver to prepare your SSD.

Step 2: Turn off and unplug your computer. Remove all the cables from the back of the case, then open it up with a screwdriver. Find your old hard drive inside; there should be an empty bay nearby.

Slide the SSD into place with the SATA power connector facing outward, within reach. Align the screw hole and secure it in place.

< strong > Step 4. </strong> There should be an unused power cable inside your computer. Connect it to the SSD.

Step 5: Plug the SATA cable into your motherboard's socket. If you can't find it, follow the old hard drive's SATA cable to its socket – there might be a spare one available right next to it.

Step 6: Replace the computer case and reconnect any cables you removed. You're done!

On your laptop:

Since most laptops don't have space for two SSDs, you'll usually need an adapter that connects the SSD to your laptop via USB. Most modern laptops use NVMe SSDs with an M.2 interface for storage, so if you're cloning a drive to replace an old one, you should get an adapter with an M.2 port.

Step 1. Connect the USB adapter to your laptop. Note that if you're cloning an SATA SSD, you'll need to purchase a SATA adapter; for an NVMe SSD, you'll need an NVMe adapter.

Step 2: Find the connector on the SSD and plug it directly into the adapter board.

Step 3: You can now begin the cloning process.

Note: The USB adapter is only necessary if you're cloning the drive while it's still in the laptop. If you've already removed the old hard drive and are replacing it with the clone, skip ahead to the section on installing the SSD.

III. The Clone Process Part 2: Choosing the Best Hard Drive Cloning Software

With the hard drive connected to your computer, you should be ready to start the cloning process. Windows doesn't have a built-in cloning tool. While it's possible to clone a hard drive manually, using cloning software is easier and faster. Some cloning software also offers additional features, such as resizing partitions and compressing data. When choosing cloning software, look for one that's compatible with your operating system and has the features you need.

We compared five hard drive cloning software across price, ease of use, extra features, and overall experience. Check out the comparison chart to help you choose the best one.

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IV. The Cloning Process 3: How to Clone HDD to SSD

With both hard drives connected and your disk cloning software installed, it's time to perform the clone. When cloning from an HDD to an SSD (the most common scenario), you'll generally follow five steps to complete the clone. Don't worry – it's not as complicated as it sounds, and the following guide will walk you through it simply.

#1. Initialize the hard drive

If your hard drive is brand new, it might not be detected by the computer unless it has been initialized first. So, please check out how to initialize a hard drive or SSD first.

Step 1. Right-click the Start button and select Disk Management.

Step 3. Next, you need to choose a partition style for the new drive. You have two options: MBR or GPT. These are two common partition styles found on Windows computers. MBR stands for Master Boot Record, while GPT means GUID Partition Table. Which one you pick depends largely on whether your computer boots using BIOS or UEFI. The more common configurations are either BIOS+MBR or UEFI+GPT.

For users who want to clone from MBR to GPT or vice versa:

Note that if you plan to boot from the cloned drive, you should keep the partition style the same on both the old and new drives. Otherwise, you might not be able to boot from the new drive. For example, if your old drive is MBR, you can clone its data and disk layout to a GPT drive, but you won't be able to boot from that GPT drive as long as your computer is set to boot in BIOS mode.

#2. Use the "Disk Copy" utility to begin cloning

Now that both disks are recognized, we can start the cloning process, using Disk Utility as an example.

Disk cloning software provides you with two clone modes: Disk/Partition Clone and Sector-by-Sector Clone. The main difference between these two is that system cloning automatically selects the system partition and disk, without requiring you to choose them manually.

Advance Notice:

• Sector-by-sector clone 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 wiped out. Please proceed with caution.

Step 1: To start cloning the entire disk to another disk, select it under "Disk Mode" and click "Next".

Step 2. Select another disk as the target disk.

Step 3: Check the partitions of the source and target disks. You can customize the partition layout of the target disk by selecting "Auto Resize," "Same as Source," or "Edit Disk Layout."

When a warning message appears, click OK.

• "Automatically resize partitions" will make some changes to the target disk layout for optimal performance.
• "Copy as is" will not modify the target disk, which will have the same layout as the source disk.
• "Edit partition layout" lets you manually adjust/move the layout of partitions on the target disk.

Check the “Perform a quick format” option for best performance on an SSD.

A warning appears, letting you know that your data will be lost. Click OK to acknowledge the warning, and then click Next.

Step 4: Click “Proceed” to officially start the task.

#5. Boot from the cloned drive

This makes sense when you perform a system clone, where you might want to boot from the cloned disk, either in addition to or instead of the original.

Scenario 1: If you want to keep your old and new hard drive

• Reboot your computer and press F2 (F8, F10, DEL, etc.) to enter BIOS settings.
• In the Boot options, select your new HDD/SSD as the new boot drive.
• Exit BIOS and restart your computer.

Scenario 2: If you keep only the new disk

• Unplug the old hard drive and make sure that the new one is connected properly.
• Connect the new hard drive and make sure your computer detects it.
• Reboot your computer.

Boot from the cloned hard drive

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5. Cloning Step 4: SSD to HDD (New drive to a classic drive)

While SSDs outperform HDDs in many ways, they don't beat HDDs in every aspect. The larger the capacity of an HDD, the lower its price, which is why many users still prefer HDDs as their boot drives. Apart from this reason, there are three other reasons that might prompt you to clone SSD to HDD.

Reasons for Cloning from SSD to HDD:

• Upgrade to a larger HDD: When your SSD runs out of space, upgrading to a bigger hard drive at the lowest cost is a good option with a traditional HDD.
• Replace a failed or damaged SSD: When an SSD fails or its data becomes inaccessible, you can clone it to an external HDD for data recovery.
• Wipe SSD thoroughly before selling: If you're planning to sell your computer, cloning SSD data to an HDD first and then wiping it ensures the security of your data.

Though the reasons may differ, the process and tools used to clone are the same. Refer to this page for instructions on how to clone an SSD to an HDD.

VI. Can I Clone My Hard Drive to a New Computer?

You may not think about hard drive cloning when you purchase a new computer. But if you're planning to buy a new computer to replace your old one, you should consider cloning the hard drive to the new computer. Why? Let me tell you the reasons.

Your old computer has everything you need and are used to, like the game you've been playing for years, the folder with all your work files, or the system full of personal files and configuration that's grown with you over the years. You may want a new computer with a better hard drive or a more advanced graphics card, but without losing all the other stuff on your old one. That's why we recommend cloning your old hard drive to your new computer.

A: Can you transfer the operating system to the new computer?

Typically, when users want to move their files to a new computer, they think first of their operating system (OS). System files contain configurations, data, programs, and settings that don't sync or transfer via cloud services. So, can you move your OS to a new computer? The good news is, you can!

Question 2: How do I clone my hard drive to a new computer?

There's an efficient way to clone a hard drive to a new computer: create a system image first, and then restore it to the new machine. This way, you can set up a new computer without spending too much time and retain the original system settings. If you prefer to use built-in Windows tools, create a system image with Backup and Restore (in Windows 7). Third-party software, such as Disk Copy tools, also offer a simpler method to clone a hard drive to a new computer.

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7. How to Clone a Hard Drive on a Mac

Updating the SSD in your Mac is just as important as updating one in a Windows computer. Whether you want to speed up your Mac or replace a failing hard drive, cloning the disk is the best way to save your data while replacing the disk. The Disk Utility that comes built-in with your Mac is powerful enough for you to clone your hard drive. Follow the steps in this section to clone your hard drive on a Mac.

Step 1: Prepare the SSD for Cloning

First, purchase an SSD that's compatible with your Mac. Make sure to get one with the same or larger storage capacity than your current drive. Once you have your new SSD, connect it to your Mac using a USB cable or an external hard drive enclosure.

Next, open Disk Utility (found in /Applications/Utilities) > select your hard drive from the left sidebar > click the “Erase” tab > choose “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” as the format, and then click “Erase.”

Step 2: Clone the source drive to the target drive

Your current drive has now been erased, so it's time to clone it over to the SSD. Select the SSD in the left sidebar, then click the “Restore” tab.

Drag your current hard drive to the “Source” field, and the SSD to the “Destination.” Make sure the “Erase Destination” box is checked, and then click the “Restore” button.

This step may take a while, depending on the size of your hard drive.

Step 3: Boot Your Mac from the SSD

When it's done, you can restart your Mac and hold down the Option key while it boots up. This will bring up a menu that lets you choose which drive to boot from. Select your new SSD, and you're all set!

VIII. Final Thoughts

So there you have it: you've cloned your drive according to our instructions. Congratulations! We hope you found it helpful. Taking the time to clone your hard drive now means that all your important data is safely backed up in case of disaster. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your data is safe.