In certain cases, the user may need to transfer information from one internal drive to another, very often along with the installed operating system. If we are talking about large amounts of data and the need to copy the HDD exactly, for example, when replacing a device, then the solution is to clone the used hard drive. Many actions can be performed manually, but even if you only need to transfer user data, depending on the volume, the process can take hours, and the system and the necessary software will have to be reinstalled, so it is more effective to use specialized software for such purposes.

How to clone a hard drive.

The procedure is a complete copying, transferring data sector by sector to a new HDD or SSD media specified by you, which allows you to literally “clone” the existing source. At the end of the process, the content will be available in the same form as it was on the original device, that is, with the same operating system and its files, drivers, installed software, user data, settings, passwords and other information, in other words, all data “ will move" to another medium. Everything will be exactly as on the original device, and you can perform a full cloning of the HDD or some of its sections. In certain cases this may seem like a more acceptable option.

IMPORTANT. Since the created clone will be completely identical to the previous carrier, care must be taken to ensure that the donor is not infected with viruses.

To clone a drive with files, structure and partitions, it is not necessary that the volume of both devices, the source and the clone, be the same, but the drive to which we will transfer the information must still accommodate it. So, if there is no possibility or desire to clone the entire disk, you can copy only what you really need.

Why clone a hard drive?

Each user has his own goals when performing certain tasks, including this one. First of all, cloning a hard drive is done for your own comfort and to save time. So, the procedure is performed for the following reasons:

• Replacing an old hard drive with a new HDD or a more productive SSD (the second option is becoming very popular today, due to the fact that recently the cost of solid-state drives has become adequate by consumer standards, the tendency to purchase devices has increased).
• Another reason why you need to clone a hard drive is to transfer the installed OS. So, after completing the procedure, you will be able to use the same Windows operating system, with all its components and settings. On the new media you will not have to install Windows or configure everything you need to work on your computer. Absolutely nothing will change, except that in the case of transferring to an SSD, the system will become many times faster.
• Synchronization of work on different computers. Now we are not talking about the scale within the framework of any project, specific program or service; for this, other, less global actions can be performed. Thanks to the ability to clone a hard drive, you can expand your own field of activity and feel as comfortable as possible in your own work environment when using different devices.
• Create a backup copy of your data. For many users, the information recorded in the device’s memory is of great importance, especially if it is personal and does not exist anywhere else except on a specific drive. There is no eternal guarantee for any type of media, and sooner or later the device may suddenly fail. At the same time, not every user will entrust certain data to a cloud storage service, and the volumes may exceed those allowed by the storage facilities or you will have to pay for storage, but if you have a clone media with your files, they will be safe.

Utilities and programs for cloning

It is impractical to manually transfer data on the scale of a hard drive using Windows, especially since there is absolutely no need to do this, because for this purpose there are special tools, and in a large assortment, that allow you to easily and quickly carry out the cloning operation. Among the software you can find both free and commercial products. Some applications can only perform cloning, while for others the ability to create a HDD clone is by no means the only function. Here the user can choose which program to use; it all depends on which option is more preferable for him. We will look at several convenient programs and figure out how to clone a hard drive with the Windows 10 or 7 operating system.

Before starting work with any of the applications, you should connect the new drive to the appropriate device interface, and also make sure that the process will not be interrupted. The battery on the laptop must be charged, and on any computer, all factors that could interfere with execution must be eliminated, after which you can begin cloning activities. The procedure in various programs is similar, and it can be done intuitively, but there are still some differences, so let’s take a closer look at the process of creating a hard drive clone in popular applications.

The utility is paid, it creates backups and is used to restore data in the event of its loss under various conditions, for example, as a result of failures, infection of the device with viruses and other force majeure. Clone drives are not created using this software, but the functionality of RestoreIT Pro allows you to restore the OS even if the bootloader is damaged, save the history of file transformations, monitor the hard drive or its specific partitions, full and cumulative backups are also available.

A good program with easy navigation, offering the ability to backup and clone HDDs, selected partitions, as well as the operating system. The basic version software is distributed free of charge. To use Aomei Backupper to transfer data, do the following:

• Launch the software and go to the “Clone” section in the left menu.
• Here we select “Disk Clone” if you want to clone your hard drive.
• Specify the source (“Source disk”) and click the “Next” button.
• Now select the destination drive (“Destination disk”) to which the data will be “moved”, click “Next”.
• The process will begin automatically, and upon completion you will need to reboot.

A very convenient and simple program in Russian that allows you to make copies of disks with full preservation of the structure of HDD drives. The cloning procedure is automated, which will save the user from manual cleaning, data transfer and elimination of various errors in the registry. The software is paid, but there is also a free version for 30 days, which is quite enough for cloning. Working with Handy Backup is easy:

• Launch the software and select the task type “Create a backup copy”, click “Next”.
• We indicate the data to be copied, for which we expand the “Disk Clone” branch, where we select “System Recovery”, click “Add”.
• We mark the “Physical drive” section (this is the hard drive).
• Now you will need to specify the target drive to “move” data to it, then click “Next”.
• When choosing the copy type, check “Full”.
• You can skip the next step “Compression and Encryption” without changing anything if you don’t need it.
• At the next stage, setting up the scheduler will be available, but we are not interested in this, so click “Next”.
• Enter the name of the task, click the “Finish” button, after which the full HDD cloning procedure will begin, after which you need to reboot the device.

A simple utility with an intuitive menu that will help you, in just a few mouse clicks, complete the procedure for transferring all information from media, individual directories or specific system partitions. To carry out the operation, follow these steps:

• Launch the Renee Becca utility.
• Go to the “Clone” section (in the left block of the interface) and select the “Hard disk clone” item. You can also make a clone of the partition or move just the system.
• In the window that appears, you need to specify the source drive (source) and the destination of the clone (the drive to which we will copy the data).
• Check the box “Make the target disk bootable...”.
• Expand the list by clicking the “More” button and check the “Clone of all sectors...” item. In this case, the procedure will take a lot of time, but will allow you to make the new drive identical to the previous one.
• The process is started by clicking the “Clone” button at the bottom of the window.

Paid, but multifunctional program. To create a hard drive clone, you can also use the trial version. The software is convenient and has good speed, as well as support for multiple versions of Windows. Thanks to the software, you can clone media with different file systems. Let's look at how to clone a hard drive using Acronis Disk Director:

• Select the media to be cloned (not the partition, but specifically the hard drive), right-click to call up the Clone Wizard, and select the “Clone basic disk” option.
• In the new window, indicate the target device where the data will be transferred. If there is any information on the “receiver”, it will be overwritten. Click “Next” after the selection is made.
• The next window requires you to select a cloning method. If you want the new drive to be completely identical to the “donor”, ​​select the “One to One” option and click “Finish”.
• In the main window you will need to confirm the action with the HDD, for which we click “Apply pending operations” and confirm the intention.
• The program will restart your computer and complete the procedure.

A free program that provides the ability to clone a hard drive in whole or in part, supporting Windows 7, 8, 10 and others, as well as various file systems and media. The utility uses multi-level encryption, ensuring data security, works at high speed and, in addition to cloning, also creates images of partitions or disks (after restoring the OS, they can be embedded in standard Windows Explorer). The interface is simple, but there is no support for the Russian language. Also among the disadvantages is a bonus in the form of advertising software. Let's look at how to clone a disk using Macrium Reflect:

• We launch the software and select the drive that will be the source.
• Click “Clone this disk”.
• We mark the sections on the “donor” that need to be cloned.
• Click “Select a disk to clone to...” and indicate the drive where we are transferring the information.
• Click “Finish” and wait for the process to complete.

The program is a toolkit for creating backups, restoring and cloning drives and their partitions. Its interface is simple and convenient, and all manipulations during the work will be accompanied by “wizard” tips, so you don’t have to study the instructions for working in the application. The program runs both from Windows and from bootable media. The software is paid, but a trial version will be enough for cloning. After launching the application, perform the following steps:

• Create an account by entering your email and personal information.
• In the block on the left, click “My new backup”.
• Select the source in the “Backup source” field and the drive to which we will write the data in the “Destination” field.
• There are several settings, but you don't have to change anything. The process will begin after clicking the “Back up now” button.

The simple and intuitive interface of the universal utility allows even an inexperienced user to clone a hard drive by sector. The program works with Windows 10, 8, 7, XP and is capable of copying drives in whole or in part. To clone an HDD using HDClone, do the following:

• Open the program and on the main page go to the “Quick Select” section.
• In the “Clone” block, click “Disk”.
• In the window that appears, select the source drive.
• Now select the target disk from the list of devices.
• We carry out the available settings, marking the necessary functions. The Smart Copy option will allow you to make a copy one hundred percent identical to the original, and also speeds up the procedure for transferring information. If necessary, you can check the “Defragmentation” function; it will be executed after the main process. When the necessary settings have been made, click “Next”.
• Once the process is complete, a reboot will be required.

A functional program that clones HDDs by sector and works with any file systems. The software allows you to clone both the entire disk and part of it, including deleted, hidden and protected elements. For the cloning procedure, the free demo version is sufficient. The product is not Russified, which may cause inconvenience for some users. Another drawback is the advertising that runs like a locomotive on the software, but given the fact that the utility is free and quite good, you can close your eyes to this. To perform HDD cloning, do the following:

• We launch the utility and select the Disk Mode to create a completely identical disk (the ability to clone individual partitions is also available, for which you need to select Partition Mode).
• Select the source and click the “Next” button at the bottom of the window.
• You can also check the “Sector by sector copy” option, which will allow you to make an identical disk by copying each sector.
• Select the drive where we will write the information and click “Next”.
• Reboot to complete the procedure.

Another well-known product that is multi-functional and is also used for cloning a hard drive. The utility transfers selected partitions, files or the entire disk, including hidden elements. The created clones can be saved in the Acronis Cloud, where they can be accessed from any device. The application can be launched from a DVD or flash drive, the interface is simple and convenient, the Russian language is supported, so working with Acronis True Image is a pleasure, despite the considerable cost of the product (the trial version is valid for 30 days). You can make a HDD clone using this tool as follows:

• We launch the program and go to the Tools section (in the left block of the window), where we select “Disk cloning”.
• Two operating modes are available - automatic and manual. If you do not have enough experience, it is better to select the first option and click “Next” (if you select the second option, you will be able to manage the process).
• Mark the source disk and click “Next”.
• Now we mark the drive to which we will transfer the information, click “Next”, after which the process will start.
• Upon completion of the procedure, reboot the computer.

After cloning using any of the tools, you can disconnect the old drive or change the boot priority in the BIOS settings. You can specify the new media from which the OS should now boot through Advanced BIOS Features - First Boot Device or Boot - 1st Boot Priority, depending on the BIOS version.

Features of cloning information from HDD to SSD

It's no secret that new generation solid-state drives are many times faster than conventional hard drives. So, if you clone from an HDD to an SSD system, you will get a much more productive OS. In addition, any software will run faster on an SSD, so transferring the operating system and software will improve the comfort and efficiency of working at the computer. You can clone a system from HDD to SSD and built-in tools by creating a Windows image and specifying the new drive as a place to copy information. After this, you will need to remove the OS from the hard drive, disconnect the old drive, or change the boot priority in the BIOS. When transferring data to an SSD (it is more advisable to transfer only the system and programs), do not forget about the volume of the new media, since solid-state drives do not have a large capacity. To successfully clone a hard drive, the SSD should not be smaller than the information being “moved” to it.

Although the backup procedure can be carried out using standard means, it is still easier to carry out using special software, since the programs allow you to copy hidden files. However, most utilities are freely available or have trial versions, which is quite enough for the average user.

The volumes of information stored on computers are growing catastrophically quickly, and hard drives are not rubber. Buying a new, more capacious drive can temporarily solve the problem of lack of space. But this raises another question: how to quickly and without loss transfer information from the old disk to the new one. It is advisable to maintain the functionality of the system and all settings. Not only specialists in the field of repair and maintenance of computer equipment, but also ordinary users have to deal with this. There are a number of programs designed to accurately copy hard drives and logical partitions. In addition to performing operations to “move” the system from one medium to another,
they allow you to backup important data. It's no secret that the importance and cost of information sometimes far exceeds the price of the drive. The ability to quickly restore data from a backup copy after a virus attack, unskilled user actions, or problems with a hard drive will help you save time and money. Let's look at specific examples of the operation of some programs specifically designed for data backup and hard drive cloning operations.

Paragon Drive Copy

Manufacturer: Paragon Software Group
Address: http://www.paragon.ru/home/dc-personal/
Size: 11.8 MB
Status: paid, 490 rub.

The first in line will be the program Paragon Drive Copy from Paragon Software Group. The distribution is handled by the well-known company 1C, so there should be no problems purchasing a licensed version of this software product.

The program runs directly under the Windows operating system. All functions for copying data are implemented in the form of wizards that facilitate the process of using it. First of all, let's look at the capabilities of this utility in the field of disk copying. From the main window, launch the hard disk copy wizard. This procedure allows you to duplicate all data from one hard drive to another and will be useful when replacing storage media. We select the physical disk from which the copy will be made, the next step is to set the copying parameters and then select the disk to which the recording will be made. All partitions and data from the original HDD will be copied to
another. If the disk that is the data source and the disk being copied to have different capacities, the program will automatically resize the partitions in proportion to the capacity of the new disk. The utility can copy partitions with any known file systems. Supports work with hard drives connected to IDE, SCSI, SATA, as well as USB, Fire Wire interfaces. To improve recording reliability, in the settings section you can enable checking the disk surface before recording and checking the correctness of the recorded data. These parameters increase the reliability of copying, but do so at the cost of increasing the operation time.

Copying modern large-capacity hard drives is a rather lengthy process. The program has a built-in task scheduler that allows you to start the copy operation at any time convenient for the user in automatic mode. U Drive Copy There is one more important feature. This is the technology declared by the manufacturer Power Shield, which allows the copy operation to complete even after the computer restarts due to a power failure.

The Partition Copy Wizard works in exactly the same way as the disk copy operation. The only difference is that a copy of only one of the logical partitions of the hard drive is made. To speed up copying partitions containing the Windows operating system, the program can skip temporary files such as pagefile.sys, hyberfil.sys.

The third wizard is called “One-Click Copy Wizard”. It creates an exact copy of the hard drive without changing the size and location of the logical partitions. In this case, so-called sector-by-sector copying is used. The contents of the first sector of the source disk are written to the first sector of the destination, the second - to the second, and so on. To carry out such an operation, it is necessary that the destination disk be no smaller in size than the original one.

Additional features of the program not directly related to disc copying will also be useful for users. With their help, you can create, delete and format partitions on the HDD, check the integrity of the file system, and even restore accidentally deleted partitions. The advantages also include the Russian-language interface of the program itself and the help system and the availability of detailed documentation for use.

HDClone Professional 3.2.8.

Manufacturer: Miray Software
Address: http:// www.miray.de
Size: 4.1 MB
Status: limited version - free, commercial - up to 299 euros

This program, created by a group of German programmers, during the installation process creates a bootable CD/DVD disk or 3.5" floppy disk, onto which the actual functional part itself is written with a simple graphical interface. The program uses sector-by-sector copying technology. With such replication of information, it is absolutely unimportant what kind type of file system on the copied disks and what data is recorded there. The copy will exactly repeat the original.

There are as many as four varieties of this program, differing in the speed of copying operations. The free version of the program is the slowest and can only work with IDE/ATA/SATA drives. You will have to pay for increased speed and support for hard drives with other types of interface. Before the copy operation, you can run a disk access speed test to estimate the approximate completion time of the task. In the options you can configure the copy mode so that bad sectors on the source disk are skipped. This allows you to quickly make a copy from partially faulty media.

The advantages of the program are its small size, independence from the type of operating system and file system on the hard drive. The professional version works very quickly, allowing you to copy hard drives at speeds exceeding one and a half gigabytes per minute.

CloneDisk

Manufacturer: Glotov P.A.
Address: http://www.clonedisk.narod.ru
Size: 647 KB
Status: paid, $24.95

CloneDisk– another program from the family of copiers. A distinctive feature of this program is that, in addition to hard drives, it can work with USB Flash, optical CDs and even floppy disks. It often happens that the data recorded on a CD or floppy disk is no less important than the files on the HDD.

The program window is divided into four parts. At the top, you select the source device for copying information. This can be a physical disk, a logical partition, or a previously saved image file. In the second part, the destination (Destination) of the information being read is indicated in a similar way. Below are the copy options. When the All Sectors mode is turned on, sector-by-sector copying is performed, and when this mode is turned off, only sectors occupied by information are processed, which significantly speeds up the program. By default, the program skips bad sectors on the source disk. This is a logically correct decision - the information on the faulty section is still
is already destroyed, and numerous unsuccessful attempts to read it only slow down the program. The options include the Stop In Bad Sector function - if you enable it, copying will stop if there is a bad section. The program also has the ability to copy not the entire disk or partition, but only the required number of sectors, starting from the specified one. This feature can be very useful when recovering information from partially faulty media. A situation often occurs when, while reading, the hard drive reaches a certain bad sector and, after making several attempts to read it, freezes, stopping responding to commands, with the entire rest of the disk surface being left behind.
except for this faulty cluster, it is read normally. To copy data from such half-dead media, this mode of selective sector-by-sector copying will be indispensable. After this, the contents of the working media are analyzed using specialized programs, such as R-Studio or GetDataBack, although often the use of these programs is not even required - the files on working media will be available immediately.

The advantage of the program is its small size, the ability to work not only with hard drives, but also with other storage media, and the ability to read information from partially damaged media.

Norton Ghost 12

Manufacturer: Symantec
Address: http://www.symantec.com/
Size: 70 MB
Status: paid, $69.99

New version of the program Ghost from Commander Norton from the corporation Symantec. Until recently, I used the eighth version of this program for all hard drive copying operations. I was completely satisfied with it until hard drives with the SATA interface became widespread. On many modern motherboards, the program began to freeze at the disk detection stage. It is for this reason that I started looking for a replacement for her. Naturally, the first thing I decided to do was try the newest version of the same product. The first thing that caught my eye was that from a simple program for copying hard drives, this popular package has turned into a real system
backup and information protection. The functions of duplicating hard drives remained in full force, but seemed to fade into the background.

Program Norton Ghost Now it does not require creating boot disks and rebooting the system to start and work with media. All copying and restoring operations are performed directly from Windows. You can create an image of the entire disk or individual partitions. Added the ability to create backup copies of individual files or folders. Copy functions can now be performed automatically according to a predefined schedule. The program supports almost all types of storage media. There are now possibilities for remote administration of the backup process. But all these undoubtedly useful functions require space and resources. Former
Ghost fit on a floppy disk - now he needs more than 100 MB on the hard drive.

Summary: Norton Ghost Version 12 is a serious package for serious work from a leading manufacturer. Currently, it is aimed more at the corporate market as an information backup system. For home use as a disk copier, you can find a simpler and cheaper solution.

MaxBlast 5

Manufacturer: Seagate Technology
Address: http://www.seagate.com/
Size 103 MB
Status: free

Leading hard drive manufacturers also create their own programs for data backup and information recovery. A good example of this is the program MaxBlast 5. Initially, the utility was created by the company Maxtor to copy data from their drives, but after the merger of companies, the support and distribution of this program is carried out by Seagate Technology. The program is based on technology True Image. Unlike Acronis-branded software, this version of the software is completely free.

The utility allows you to copy hard drives both entirely and individual partitions. You can directly copy from one hard drive to another, or create an image file of the selected media, from which you can then easily obtain an exact copy of the hard drive or its partition in a short time.

MaxBlast 5 It also allows you to backup individual files and folders. For example, you can set up a task to make backup document files Microsoft Office or messages stored in email. If any failure occurs and the operating system does not start, you can restore the system disk from an image file using a boot disk created on removable media. The program supports recording to CD/DVD or creates an image file in the ISO standard, which can subsequently be easily burned to a CD using any optical disc burning program.

All functions are conveniently implemented in the form of wizards, which make it easier for untrained users to work with the utility. It is possible to set a backup schedule. While tasks are running, you can change their system priority to speed up the process. By default, the priority is set to low so that the copying process does not interfere with the computer's work with other applications.

Summary: MaxBlast 5 is a powerful and easy-to-use tool for cloning hard drives and creating backup copies of important data. Despite being free, the program’s capabilities are far ahead of many of its competitors, for the use of which you have to pay a lot of money. The only drawback is that there is no Russian version. Documentation is also in English.

Cloning a hard drive is a very responsible, but sometimes necessary step.

EASEUS Disk Copy

Guarantees 100% identity of the clone disk with the original.

Using EASEUS Disk Copy, you can clone the entire disk, as well as individual partitions and even files, including deleted (if they have not been overwritten), hidden and copy-protected.

Features and benefits of EASEUS Disk Copy:

• the ability to run from a bootable DVD or;
• independence from the operating system installed on the computer;
• support for SATA I-II, SCSI, SAS, USB, IDE, Firewire and dynamic disk interfaces;
• support for hard drives up to 1 TiB;
• high cloning speed;
• intuitive interface;
• free license.

Flaws:

• lack of Russian localization, which can make it difficult for inexperienced users to figure out how to use the program;
• When installed on Windows along with EASEUS Disk Copy, advertising junk is installed.

Paragon Drive Backup Personal

Acronis True Image

Acronis True Image is a program similar in capabilities to Paragon Drive Backup and, perhaps, one of the most popular among its kind.

In addition to backup, it can create clones of a wide variety of drives with different file systems.

At the user's choice, it can clone individual partitions, files or the entire disk. Well compatible with both older versions of Windows and Windows 8.1

To create a disk clone using Acronis True Image, just boot the computer with or on which the program is recorded and run the Clone Wizard.

Advantages of Acronis True Image:

• multifunctionality;
• Russian-language interface and intuitive settings;
• automatic and manual operating mode;
• the ability to select data to transfer, including those that are invisible in Windows Explorer and protected from copying;
• high speed.

The disadvantage of this program is the same as that of Paragon Drive Backup - it has a paid license. Its price is 1,700 rubles.

Farstone Restore IT Pro

Farstone RestoreIT Pro is primarily a tool for restoring system and user data after crashes, virus attacks, changes and accidental deletion.

This program does not create disk clones as such, but can create backups of any information on them.

The frequency of backups in RestoreIT Pro can be configured at least hourly. And restoration to a saved copy is done by pressing one button.

RestoreIT Pro features:

• the ability to restore the system even after bootloader damage;
• 2 backup modes - full and cumulative (saving only changed data);
• monitoring the entire disk or only selected partitions;
• storing the entire history of file changes, not just the last saved version.

The disadvantages of the program are the paid license ($24.95) and the lack of a disk cloning function.

An easy way to clone a hard drive or SSD using Acronis True Image

This video shows a simple way to transfer information from an old hard drive to a new one using Acronis True Image 2013.

This is the transfer of all data from the old drive ("donor") to the new one ("recipient"). Everything is copied without exception: the operating system with drivers, installed programs, photos, music, and so on. After cloning and replacing the disk, there is no need to remember passwords, all files will be in their usual places.

Why clone your hard drive?

This operation is carried out for the following purposes:

1. To use a new and faster drive. A typical case is replacing a slow HDD with a modern SSD. This will significantly speed up the responsiveness of Windows, and due to cloning, upgrading your computer will be as comfortable as possible for the user. All shortcuts and settings will remain unchanged, but the system will become faster.
2. To avoid reinstalling the operating system. For example, after buying a new computer, you want everything to be the same as on the old one and without reinstallations. This will happen when transferring information from the “donor” to the “recipient”, and the procedure itself will require relatively little action and attention on the part of the user.
3. To synchronize work on different computers. Remote work is becoming more common. Cloning a hard drive will allow you to deploy a full-fledged workstation where it is convenient and there can be as many such places as you like.
4. To backup your data. You can lose information on a storage device at any time - nothing lasts forever. Thanks to cloning in a few clicks, you can be protected in case of force majeure and have a fully working “cast” of all data.

It is important that the “donor” is free of viruses - clone the drive only after a thorough scan for malware.

Utilities and programs for cloning

There are many cloning apps available. Some are specially designed to perform such an operation - suitable for inexperienced users who value the simplicity of the process. Other programs have broader functionality. In them, creating a disk clone is just one of many available options.

Before using any application, connect the new drive to your computer. To do this, it is convenient to use the external hard drive pocket

Renee Becca

A simple utility that everyone can understand. With its help, you can clone a storage medium in a few clicks. The algorithm of actions consists of the following steps:

• download, install and launch the application;
• select the item in the left panel "Clone". Using "Renee Becca" you can also clone only certain local disks or transfer only the operating system to a new drive. The corresponding items are located below in the initial window of the program;

• indicate “donor” and “recipient”. To get a full copy of the “donor”, ​​check the box “Make the target disk bootable...” at the bottom of the window. On the left, expand the “More” list and check the box next to “Clone all sectors...”. Then start the operation by clicking on “Clone”;

A functional program that costs a lot, but the demo version is also suitable for cloning. To download it, follow the link and enter your e-mail. After launching the application, do the following:

• select "donor". It is important to specify not just a local drive, but the entire drive. To do this, right-click on the line with this drive and click on “Clone basic disk”;

• indicate the "recipient". When choosing this disk, remember that the data on it will be overwritten, and its volume cannot be less than the size of the occupied information on the “donor”;

• so that the “recipient” is exactly the same as the “donor”, ​​check the box next to the “One to One” line in the next window;

• in Acronis Disc Director, any manipulations with drives must always be confirmed separately. To do this, at the top of the window, click on “Apply pending operations” - only after this the cloning will begin;

If you do not use the program for commercial purposes, then you do not need to pay for it. You just need to go to the developer’s website, click on “Home Use”, specify your e-mail and confirm it - you will receive a corresponding letter. After downloading, installing and launching Macrium Reflect, follow these steps:

• on the start screen, click on “Clone this disk”;

• on the next window, check the box for all local disks on the “donor”;

• at the bottom, click on “Select a disk to clone ...” - a selection window will appear where you specify “donor”;

• at the end of the operation, click on “Finish”;

Paragon Drive Backup Personal

A free utility with enough capabilities for cloning. It is available for download on this page, and after downloading, installing and launching, do the following:

• create your own account in the application. This is done in a few clicks - you only need to specify your e-mail and personal information. After that, on the left, click on “My new backup”. On the right, indicate the “donor” in the “Backup source” field and the “recipient” in the “Destination” field;

• start cloning by clicking on “Back up now”;

Simple and free application. To download, go to the developer’s website and select the version with Russian localization.

After installation and launch, follow these steps sequentially:

• indicate "donor". If you need to clone not the entire drive, but only one of the local drives, then check the “Show partitions” line and select the required local drives. Then click on “Next”;

• Specify the “recipient” and click “Next” again.

• The settings window will appear. You don’t have to change anything and click “Next”;

• A window for setting the sizes of the “donor” and “recipient” will appear. Just check the box “Resize partitions proportionally” and click on “Next”;

• in the last window, confirm the start of the operation by clicking on “Start copying”.

A good utility that has a demo version, the capabilities of which are enough for one-time disk cloning. After downloading, installing and launching the application, follow these steps:

• in the top panel, click on “Clone” - unfortunately, the program does not have a translation into Russian;

Hard drive cloning is a procedure for completely copying and transferring files contained on the HDD. This operation is mainly resorted to when replacing the source of information storage with a more capacious one.

Data cloning allows you to get a new hard drive that is completely identical to the previous one. The procedure can be carried out manually, but depending on the size of the storage medium, it may take several days. To speed up the process, you can use specialized programs that allow you to create an exact copy of your hard drive.

Programs for cloning a hard drive can be universal, which work with all types of media, or specialized (created to work with drives from a specific manufacturer). Among them are the following utilities for automatically copying information:

EASEUS Disk Copy

EASEUS is offered free of charge. The program clones the hdd by sector and works with any file system. EASEUS developers pay attention to the following advantages that their product has:

• the ability to clone the entire disk or its individual parts, including deleted, hidden and protected files;
• launch is carried out from a boot disk or flash drive;
• works with all operating systems;
• supports dynamic disks, Firewire, SAS, USB, SCSI and SATA l-ll;
• copies up to 1 TB of information;
• simple interface.

Among the main disadvantages of EASEUS are:

• not Russified, and therefore some users may have problems working with the program;
• When working with Windows, many adware programs are installed.

The latter is offset by the fact that there is no charge for using EASEUS Disk Copy.

Paragon Drive Backup Personal

What sets Paragon Drive Backup Personal apart is its ease of use. The program runs under Windows or from a boot disk. All actions performed during the process of creating a disk copy are constantly accompanied by pop-up tips. The main advantages of the program are as follows:

• several operating modes;
• supports all file systems and hard drives;
• provides the ability to copy individual files and entire sections;
• provides fast copying speed;
• Russified interface.

The program is available for a fee. You will have to pay $39.95 for the right to use it.

Macrium Reflect

Macrium Reflect not only clones data, but also creates images of individual partitions or disks, which, after restoring the system, can be embedded directly in Windows Explorer. Features of the program are as follows:

• copies the entire hard drive or individual files;
• does not require a system reboot after creating images;
• checks the identity of the received images;
• works at high speed;
• provides a high level of security for stored information through the use of multi-level encryption.

Among the disadvantages are:

• interface in English;
• Advertising products are installed along with the program.

Macrium Reflect is a completely free product.

FarStone RestolerIT Pro

The program is mainly used to recover user data lost in cases of system failure, computer failure and other situations. Essentially, Farstone RestolerIT Pro does not clone information, but creates backups, in this case a hard drive backup. The advantages of the product include:

• ability to configure the frequency of data saving;
• information is restored after pressing one button;
• data is restored even if the bootloader fails;
• depending on the selected mode, backs up all information or saves changed data;
• allows you to configure monitoring modes (the entire disk or its individual parts);
• saves the entire file modification history.

In addition to the fact that the program is unable to clone a disk, the developer requires a payment of $24.95 for its use.

Acronis True Image

Acronis True Image is one of the most popular products used for hard drive cloning today. The program is capable of copying information from various drives and file systems.

Acronis True Image supports most versions of Windows, including older editions. The user is asked to select several cloning modes: individual partitions, files or the entire disk. Acronis True Image has a number of significant features that determine the program’s popularity:

• loaded from a DVD or flash drive;
• is distinguished by its multifunctionality and high speed of operation;
• interface in Russian;
• ease of use due to intuitive settings;
• the product operates in manual or automatic modes;
• the user can specify what data needs to be copied;
• transfers any information, including hidden files.

Using Acronis True Image will cost 1,700 rubles.

Cloning example

As an example of how information is cloned from a hard drive, below is work with Acronis True Image. Although this product has an intuitive interface, you need to pay attention to the following terms:

1. Original hard drive. This term refers to the medium from which data is copied.
2. Target hard drive. Indicates the medium on which information is recorded.

To copy information using Acronis True Image, after launching the program and logging in to it, you need to perform a number of actions:

1. Select the “Tools” tab (located on the left side of the window). In the menu that appears, click on “Clone disk”.
2. The Disk Clone Wizard appears in the program window. Having selected automatic mode, you need to click on the “Next” button at the bottom of the screen.
3. The third step involves selecting the hard drive from which the information will be copied. It is important to note that the program names the media differently than “Explorer”.
4. In the next window, the program provides the opportunity to select the disk on which the information will be written. If any data is saved on the media, Acronis True Image will warn you about the possible loss of the latter after cloning is complete.
5. In the window that allows you to select a recovery method, it is recommended to leave the “Copy partitions without changes” checkbox.
6. If complete cloning of information is intended, then in the window that appears, you must click on the “Proceed” button. Otherwise, when you need to select specific files to copy, you should go to the "Exclude Files" menu (in the lower left corner). In it, you should select the data that is to be copied by placing the appropriate mark next to it.

After completing all actions, Acronis True Image prompts you to reboot the system. Before it is re-downloaded, the program will clone the information.

The next time you start the computer, the BIOS opens, in which you must select the priority for loading the operating system (from a hard drive or a cloned drive).

Copying information from HDD to SSD

Modern operating systems allow you to transfer information from a hard drive to faster SSDs. Before starting the process, you need to prepare the last drive, which will require you to perform a number of steps:

• Through the “Control Panel”, select the “Backup computer data” menu.
• Next, you need to click on “Create a system image”, specifying the new drive as the source for copying information.

The system will copy all data to the SSD in a few minutes. To avoid conflicts between pre-installed operating systems, it is recommended to remove it from your hard drive.

You can create a backup copy of information stored on your computer yourself. However, specialized programs (Acronis True Image, EASEUS Disk Copy and others) will perform this procedure faster and more efficiently, transferring even hidden files to the new drive. Cloning a hard drive allows you to eliminate in advance the possibility of losing information in the event of a computer failure, system damage, or hacker attacks.