Windows has a built in utility to create a system image, but this isn’t exactly the same as cloning. I use Macrium in this article because it makes it incredibly easy to clone a hard drive for Windows 10 and is free to use, to boot. You boot Clonezilla from a CD/DVD or flash drive, unlike Macrium, which you can use from within Windows. While I use Macrium throughout this article, there are also several alternatives you can use. Transferring large media libraries beforehand will save you quite a bit of time during the cloning process, but is entirely optional. You can save some time by transferring any media files you have to an external drive as well.Ĭloning a hard drive creates a byte-for-byte replica, including the operating system, drivers, your documents and other important files. If you have an external hard drive or a flash drive, it’s a good idea to make a backup before you begin this process. I’ll assume you have two drives already: the old one you intend to clone, and the new one we’ll call the “target.” Remember, the new drive must be the same size or larger than the old one. You can use this method to clone a traditional hard drive to a new SSD drive in Windows 10, or you can clone a smaller SSD to a larger SSD. SSD drives were very expensive just a few years ago, and now that prices have dropped many users want to upgrade that 64GB/128GB SSD to a 256GB/512GB SSD instead. Using a tool called Macrium Reflect, this process usually only takes an hour or less. Today, I’ll show you how to clone a hard drive in Windows 10 with free software.
If you’ve had to wait patiently while Windows installs its never-ending updates, know that if you clone at least you won’t have to go through that again.Ĭloning is the best way to transfer your data when upgrading your hard drive. You won’t have to tweak any settings you’ve changed. Why Clone Your Hard Drive?īy cloning your hard drive you avoid the hassle of reinstalling Windows. It’s a much used technique for users that are looking to upgrade their hard drives, as the alternative is backing up your data (not the fastest process, even with using one of our best online backup providers) and then reinstalling and reconfiguring your operating system. Last Updated: 11 May'17 T16:48:48+00:00Ĭloning a hard drive is the process of copying it exactly, byte-for-byte, to a new hard drive.
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