How to Clone Hard Drive From Boot [Step-by-Step Guide]

Are you searching for a secure and efficient method to clone a hard drive from boot? When a hard drive reaches the end of its lifespan or fails to satisfy users' requirements, it often necessitates replacement with a new one. Numerous users opt to clone a hard drive from boot to save time and effort. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to clone a hard drive via boot. Let's delve into the process of learning.

Why Clone Hard Drive From Boot

These days, more and more people prefer to clone their hard drives when they need an upgrade to a new one or their computer fails to start properly. Cloning a hard drive saves users from the hassle of reinstalling the operating system along with all their applications, games, videos, and other personal files. As a result, there are two common scenarios: 1. When users want to switch to a larger or higher-performing hard drive: By cloning the old drive to the new one without losing any data, users can immediately start using the upgraded drive without having to reconfigure their system and apps. 2. When the computer encounters boot issues or a virus attack: Cloning can be part of a backup strategy. If the original hard drive fails, users can promptly restore their system to a working state using the cloned drive, minimizing data loss risks and downtime. Both of these situations highlight the practicality and importance of hard drive cloning in everyday use.

Unable to start the computer normally: Your system files have become corrupted, preventing the system from booting. You'll need to use a bootable USB clone hard drive to restore your PC to a functional state.

Cloning process failed: Some running programs might conflict with the cloning process, so you need to clone the disk from a bootable USB for cloning.

However, how to clone a hard drive from boot since Windows doesn't come with a built-in cloning feature? You need to use a third-party tool, like Partition Master.

?Extended Reading: How to Clone Hard Drive with Bootable USB

Powerful Cloning Software: Clone Hard Drive From Boot [Return to Top](#2)

To clone a hard disk drive from the boot, you can utilize the Partition Master Professional tool. This software allows you to clone a hard disk without needing to boot into Windows. Additionally, it offers numerous features to cater to various requirements:

• Clone Partition: This feature enables you to copy a partition or the complete hard drive based on your specific needs.
• Check Disk and Rebuild MBR: The cloning software can also resolve some boot issues using "Surface Test" and "Rebuild MBR," potentially fixing problems with your PC.
• Two Hard Disk Cloning Methods: You can choose to clone only used space or all sectors from the source disk to the target disk.
• User-friendly Interface: No advanced computer skills are required. Its intuitive interface guides you through the process of cloning a hard drive from a bootable USB easily.
• Excellent Compatibility: It supports the most widely used Windows operating systems, including Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, as well as Windows XP and Vista.

Now, download this powerful tool and follow the guide below to clone a hard drive from the boot.

We need to create a bootable USB flash drive and then use that to clone the target hard drive. Here's how you can do it:

Before we begin, we need to prepare the following:

• A functional Windows computer that boots successfully.
• Install Partition Master on the working computer.
• A USB drive. Make sure to backup any important files on the USB beforehand to prevent data loss.

Guide 1: Create a Bootable USB

Once you have backed up your USB flash drive, insert it into the computer you have prepared for this task. Install the tool Partition Master and follow the instructions below to create a bootable USB:

Step 1. To create a bootable disk of tools Partition Master, you should prepare a storage media, such as a USB drive, flash drive, or a CD/DVD disc. Then, properly connect the drive to your computer.

Step 2. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, and locate the "Bootable Media" feature on the left side. Click on it.

Step 3. When the drive is available, you can select USB or CD/DVD. However, if you don't have a storage device on hand, you can also save the ISO file to a local drive and then burn it to a storage medium later. After making your choice, click the "Create" button to start the process.

Check the Warning message and click "Yes".

Step 4. When the process is complete, a pop-up window will ask you if you want to restart your computer from the bootable USB.

• Reboot Now: This means you wish to restart the current PC and enter the Bootable Media tool to manage your disk partitions without an operating system.
• Done: This indicates that you do not want to restart the current PC, but instead want to use the bootable USB on a different PC.

Note: To use the bootable disk on a new PC, you need to restart the target computer and press F2/F8/Del to enter BIOS, then set the USB bootable disk as the first boot drive.

Just be patient, your computer will automatically boot from the USB boot media and load into the WinPE tool desktop.

Guide 2: Modify the Boot Order

Before cloning, you need to boot your computer from the bootable USB drive. Here's how to do it:

Step 1. Insert a new hard drive and the bootable USB into the computer that won't start normally. Turn on the computer and press the BIOS key (F10, F2, F12, F1, or DEL) when you see the initial screen.

Step 2. Enter "BIOS setup," select "change boot order," and choose the bootable USB as the boot disk.

Step 3. Save all your changes and exit.

Guide 3: Clone the Hard Drive

Now, you can clone the hard drive from the bootable USB using the Partition Master tool. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Select the source disk.

• Click "Clone" from the left menu. Choose "Clone OS Disk" or "Clone Data Disk" and click "Next".
• Select the source disk and click "Next".

Step 2. Select the target disk.

• Select the desired HDD/SSD as your destination and click "Next" to proceed.
• Read the warning message and confirm by clicking the "Yes" button.

Step 3. View the disk layout and edit the target disk partition size.

Then click "Continue" when the program warns that it will erase all data on the target disk. (If you have valuable data on the target disk, back it up beforehand.)

You can choose "Autofit the disk," "Clone as the source," or "Edit disk layout" to customize your disk arrangement. (Select the last option if you want to allocate more space to the C drive.)

Step 4. Click "Start" to begin the disk cloning process.

tools Partition Master is reliable for cloning as it enables you to:

• Clone Windows to a new drive
• Clone SD card and USB drives
• Clone Windows 10 to a larger SSD
• Clone the entire disk or a specific partition
• Clone Windows 11 to a new computer
• Clone system partition in Windows 7

Conclusion

As we can observe, Partition Master is an incredibly useful tool for cloning a hard drive from the boot process. There's no need to employ an extra utility to create a bootable USB, as this software can efficiently handle that task. Functioning as a professional disk partition assistant, it enables users to clone disks, partitions, SSDs, as well as SD cards, USBs, and other external storage devices with ease.

If you haven't tried it yet, download it to assist with your disk partition issues, and you'll appreciate its functionality and user-friendly interface. Go ahead and download it for a hands-free experience now.

"Clone Hard Drive From Boot" FAQs

Do you have more questions regarding cloning the hard drive from the boot? This section might assist you if you have the following inquiries:

1. How to clone a hard drive from BIOS?

You can clone a hard drive from BIOS as long as you make a bootable USB. Here's how: 1. Get cloning software: Get disk cloning software like Clonezilla, Macrium Reflect, or Windows' built-in Disk Management tool. 2. Create a bootable USB: Plug a USB drive into your computer and use software like Rufus or your OS's built-in disk utility to create a bootable USB with the cloning software. 3. Boot from the USB: Restart your computer, then press the key to enter BIOS (usually F2, F10, F12, or Del, depending on your system). Go to the "Boot" menu and set the boot order to prioritize USB drives. 4. Save and exit: Save your BIOS changes and let your computer boot from the USB. 5. Start cloning: The cloning software will launch, and you'll follow on-screen prompts. Select the source drive (the one to clone) and the target drive (the new hard drive). 6. Choose cloning options: Depending on the software, you might have options for a sector-by-sector clone or a smart clone that only copies used space. Pick the one that fits your needs. 7. Begin the process: Initiate the cloning. It could take a while, based on the source drive's size and the drives' speeds. 8. Verify the clone: After it finishes, remove the USB and restart your computer without it. If the clone worked, your system should boot normally from the new hard drive. 9. Swap the old drive (optional): If you're happy with the cloned drive, swap out the original hard drive for the new one. Keep in mind that cloning duplicates everything – the OS, apps, and all files. Handle your data carefully, and always back up in case something goes wrong.

< strong > Step 1. < /strong > Create a bootable USB.

Step 2. Set the USB as the boot device.

Step 3. Begin cloning the hard drive from the bootable USB.

Windows does not have any built-in cloning utilities, so you will need to utilize a third-party tool, such as Partition Master, for this purpose.

2. How do I use a cloned drive as a boot drive? To use a cloned drive as a boot drive, follow these steps: 1. **Ensure the cloned drive is recognized**: Make sure your cloned drive is properly connected to your computer. It can be connected via USB or installed internally, replacing the original drive. 2. **Update BIOS/UEFI settings**: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS or UEFI settings by pressing the appropriate key (usually F2, F10, F12, or Del, depending on your system). Look for options like 'Boot Device Priority' or 'Boot Order'. 3. **Change the boot order**: In the BIOS/UEFI settings, rearrange the boot order so that the cloned drive is listed as the first boot device. This will ensure your computer attempts to boot from the cloned drive first. 4. **Save and Exit**: After making the changes, save the new settings and exit the BIOS/UEFI menu. Your computer will restart with the new boot order. 5. **Boot from the cloned drive**: If everything was done correctly, your computer should now boot from the cloned drive. You should see the operating system loading as it would with the original drive. Remember that if the cloning process wasn't successful or the clone is not a perfect replica, you might encounter issues during the boot process. Always make sure to use reliable cloning software and verify the clone's integrity before attempting to boot from it.

You need to access the BIOS settings in order to modify the boot sequence. The steps are as follows:

Step 1. Press DEL, F2, or F8 to enter the BIOS while the PC is booting up.

Step 2. Click "Change Boot Order" and set the cloned drive as the primary boot drive.

Step 3. Save your changes and exit.

3. Does cloning a hard drive copy the operating system?

If the target hard drive contains the operating system, cloning a hard drive copies everything on it, including the OS.