So Simple | How to Clone a Hard Drive Without Taking It Out

Disk cloning helps users create an exact one-to-one copy of the data stored on the original disk to a target storage device. As such, disk cloning is often used for upgrading a hard drive or replacing an old hard drive with a new one.

However, cloning serves more purposes than that. Apart from disk replacement, it can also be utilized for data transfer, data recovery, and data backup. In this case, there is no need to remove the HDD. You can achieve the goal just by cloning HDD to SSD.

This article will show you how to clone a hard drive without taking it out, and recommend the best hard drive cloning software for you.

When to Clone a Hard Drive Without Deleting

Many users choose to upgrade to a larger hard drive or faster SSD and replace the old one for more storage space and better computer performance. Some even opt to change the hard drive of a laptop and reinstall the operating system.

But there are situations where we need to clone a disk without removing it.

Transmit data

• When you want to replace your old computer with a new one, cloning the hard drive to a new computer allows you to enjoy the new hardware configuration while keeping all your original data. Since cloning creates an exact one-to-one copy, all the data and settings on the hard drive will automatically transfer to the new drive.

Migration System

• If you want to avoid the hassle of reinstalling Windows and other apps on the new device, you can choose to migrate Windows to SSD by cloning the system disk. That way, your new machine will have the same system setup as the old one.

Create a backup

When you intend to back up your files, you can save all of them in a hard drive and clone the disk without removing it to have an exact copy of your crucial data. This way, you can quickly restore all your data from the copies in case of any data disaster on the source files, thus enhancing your computer's data security.

What to Do When Cloning a Hard Drive Without Removing It

There are a few things you should do before beginning the cloning process.

Get ready with the solid-state drive

If you plan to clone it without removing it, you'll also need a second storage device. I'd recommend choosing a larger HDD or SSD to clone your old drive to, rather than another identical drive.

While HDDs are great for storing more data, SSDs have faster read and write speeds, better performance, and they're more durable and power-efficient than HDDs. Especially if you plan to migrate your system, knowing how to install an SSD without reinstalling Windows will save you a lot of trouble.

Format a new solid-state drive (SSD)

Should you format the new SSD before cloning? The answer is yes.

Before starting the cloning process, you must format the new SSD that's prepared. Otherwise, it won't function properly. However, if the SSD you're preparing is not brand new, formatting might not be necessary, as it will be automatically formatted during the cloning process, and all data will be wiped out.

Tools for connecting drivers

Gather the tools you need to connect the hard drive to your computer, which include a SATA cable, a USB-to-SATA adapter, and a screwdriver.

Download and install a disk cloning software.

A professional and efficient disk cloning software is an essential part of the cloning process. It determines the stability and security of the cloning process, as well as the success of the cloning result.

For this, we will be using Disk Clone Tool as your cloning assistant. In the following content, we will introduce the software and bring you a detailed tutorial on how to clone HDD to SSD with Disk Clone Tool.

Best Free Software to Clone Hard Drive to SSD

Since Windows doesn't have a built-in tool to help users clone a hard drive, you'll have to find a good cloning software to do the job for you.

Disk Copy Tool is a professional cloning utility for Windows 7/8/10/11. It helps you clone disks, systems, and partitions, and migrate an active Windows system between HDD and SSD. Whether you're transferring the C drive to a new computer or cloning a drive with bad sectors, the tool gets the job done at an incredible speed.

Based on the results of our testing, we feel confident in recommending Disk Copy for the cloning process.

How to Clone a Hard Drive on Windows 10/11 Without Removing It

Now, you can download the Disk Copy tool for free and learn how to clone a hard drive without taking it out on Windows 10 or Windows 11 by following the detailed tutorial below.

Note: Enable the disk cloning tool for a smooth disk copy or cloning process.

Step 1. Download, install, and run the disk cloning tool on your computer. Click on Disk Mode, select the source disk that you want to copy or clone, and then 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 the source disk, or larger.

Step 2. Select the target disk to which you want to clone/copy your old disk, then click "Next" to proceed. If prompted, click "OK" to confirm erasing data from the target disk.

Step 3: Check and edit the disk layout. You can choose to “Fit to disk size”, “Copy as source”, or “Edit disk layout”. It's recommended to use “Fit to disk size”.

The "Copy source" option copies the same partition layout from the source disk to the target disk.
Editing the disk layout allows you to manually adjust the size or position of partitions on the target disk.

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

Click “Continue” to begin cloning or copying the disk.

Conclusions

In this post, you can find all the tips about how to clone a hard drive without removing it.

Before you begin cloning, prepare as advised and download the best HDD to SSD cloning software tool – Disk Copy – to start your cloning journey.

If you're looking for more cloning tips, don't miss those posts.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is cloning or copying a hard drive better?

The answer varies under different circumstances.

If you just want to copy regular data off of your old hard drive, like photos, documents, and videos, then copying the hard drive is your best bet. It's a simpler process that's much faster than cloning the entire drive.

Disk cloning creates an exact replica of the original drive and writes it sector by sector. If your source drive is a system drive or has many applications installed on it, disk cloning is the better choice.

What happens to the original hard drive after cloning?

After the cloning process, your old drive will remain unchanged, and all of its data will be preserved.