Beginner's Guide - How to Mirror Hard Drive to SSD

Linda Updated on November 5, 2021 to Disk/Partition Clone | User Guide

HDD vs SSD

Hard disk drives (HDD) and solid state drives (SSD) look similar physically, but they store information very differently. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the right choice for you depends on how you use your computer.

What is HDD? HDD stands for "Hard Disk Drive," which is a type of non-volatile storage device used for long-term data storage in computer systems. It employs magnetic media to record and retrieve information, utilizing spinning disks and read/write heads to manipulate data. HDDs are the traditional form of storage in computers, although Solid State Drives (SSDs) are becoming a more popular choice nowadays.

HDDs read and write information using disks. It consists of one or more magnetic platters, each with an actuator arm and read/write head, and a motor to move the arm and spin the platters.

The platters inside an HDD spin at a preset speed, usually 4,200 to 7,200 rpm, which determines its read/write speed. The higher the preset speed, the faster the read/write. HDDs are a mature technology that, for the same storage capacity, is cheaper than an SSD.

What is an SSD? SSD stands for "Solid State Drive," which is a type of storage device that uses an array of solid-state electronic memory chips for persistent data storage. Unlike traditional mechanical hard disk drives (HDDs), SSDs have no moving parts, allowing for faster read and write speeds, shorter boot and access times, and greater durability and resistance to shock. Because of these advantages, SSDs are commonly used in computer systems, servers, laptops, and mobile devices to enhance data storage and system performance.

SSDs use flash memory to be more durable and faster. They also use less power and have no moving parts. You can think of them like a larger USB drive, since they use similar technology.

SSDs use blocks to store data, and whenever any part of a block is updated, the entire block must be rewritten. The data in the old block is copied to a new block, updated, and then the old block is erased. SSDs have several advantages over HDDs:

• Blazing-fast read/write speeds: The SSD boasts impressive read and write speeds of up to 3,400/3,000 MB/s.
• More durable than HDDs: With its compact design and fewer moving parts, the SSD is less prone to failure and better protects your data from the impacts of movement compared to an HDD, which can lead to data loss.
• Energy-efficient performance: The SSD delivers superior performance while consuming less power, keeping your computer running cooler and more smoothly.
• More practical form factor: Smaller in size than an HDD, the SSD can withstand drops and movement, making it more versatile.

# What Do You Need to Clone HDD to SSD?

There are many reasons to clone a hard drive to an SSD, but the benefits of cloning an internal one are largely the same. Two primary advantages include data protection and upgrading your hard drive to a more efficient one.

To clone your hard drive to an SSD successfully and smoothly, you need to follow these steps:

1. Back up and wipe all data from the SSD: If your target SSD isn't new, backing up the SSD allows room for data recovery. The cloning process will erase all data on the destination device. Wiping the SSD is necessary to make room for the clone.

2. Disconnect all external devices: Desktop computers allow users to connect multiple hard drives. To clone HDD to SSD correctly, you need to disconnect all external devices such as USB storage, printers, and so on.

3. Download and install a disk cloning program: You'll need a disk cloning program to perform the clone quickly and efficiently. Windows doesn't have a built-in tool for this, so you'll use a third-party disk cloning utility.

If you have a laptop, which only has one drive bay, you'll need to use a USB to SATA adapter to connect the SSD.

Hard Disk Imaging Software - Hard Drive Cloning Tools

Sometimes, when users want to upgrade to a new hard drive, they clone the disk. This can be done on Microsoft operating systems, where you copy the disk file by file, much like a copy and paste.

The problem with this method is that it doesn't provide a reliable and efficient way to clone all the contents of one hard drive to another. To clone a device's hard drive to another drive safely and effectively, you need to use a third-party disk cloning software like the Disk Copy tool.

"Disk Copy" is an efficient and stable cloning software that ensures the safety of your files during the cloning process. It can replicate original data to a new drive with 100% lossless quality. The software boasts several key features, such as:

How to Clone a Hard Drive to an SSD with Disk Cloning Tools

To use a disk cloning tool to clone an HDD to an SSD, you first need to download and install the utility on your computer. After installation, launch the tool and follow these steps: 1. **Connect both drives**: Ensure your SSD is connected to your computer, either through a USB-to-SATA adapter or directly via a free SATA port if it's an internal drive. 2. **Launch the cloning software**: Start the disk cloning utility you've installed (examples include Clonezilla, Macrium Reflect, or Acronis True Image). 3. **Select source drive**: In the software interface, choose your existing HDD as the source disk. This is the drive containing all your data and operating system. 4. **Select target drive**: Identify and select your SSD as the destination drive. Make sure you choose the correct drive, as this process will overwrite everything on the target SSD. 5. **Start the cloning process**: Initiate the cloning operation. The tool may offer options like sector-by-sector copy, which ensures a complete clone, including unused space on the HDD. 6. **Wait for completion**: The cloning process can take some time depending on the size of your HDD and the speed of the drives. Be patient and do not interrupt the process. 7. **Verify the clone**: Once completed, check the cloned SSD to ensure that all files and system settings have transferred correctly. 8. **Boot from the SSD**: To confirm that the clone is bootable, restart your computer and change the BIOS settings to boot from the SSD. If everything went well, your system should start up normally. 9. **Optional: Remove the old HDD**: After confirming the successful boot, you can safely remove the HDD or use it for storage purposes. Remember to always backup important data before attempting any disk cloning or manipulation to avoid potential data loss.

Step 1: In Disk Mode, select the HDD you want to clone.

Step 2: Select the SSD as the destination disk.

If you see a warning that data on the SSD will be erased, click OK to proceed, if there's no important data on the target disk.

Step 3: Edit the disk layout if needed, and click “Continue” to proceed.

Since the target is an SSD, check the box for “Select if target is SSD.”

Step 4: Wait for the process to complete.

Conclusions

Cloning an HDD to an SSD is the best way to upgrade an old hard drive and safeguard your data from system crashes, disk failures, or accidental deletion. In every aspect, SSDs are more efficient than HDDs, providing users with a better experience when using their computers.

If you need to clone a drive with no downtime and no risk of data loss, you might want to consider using a high-performance third-party tool like Disk Copy.