When storing information on computers, there is always a risk of data loss. There can be many reasons. Starting from the elementary deletion of the necessary data and ending with malfunctions

In order to ensure the safety of important information and not spend too much time installing programs in case of failure, cloning is necessary.

This means that in a few simple steps you can return the lost.

This article is designed to help experienced and novice users choose the most convenient hard drive cloning program.

comparison table

Read also:How to split a disk into two: Instructions for all operating systems

Names	Advantages	Flaws
Acronis True Image	A large number of options; Russian language; simple interface; choice of operating mode; presence of a cloud.	Paid license
EASEUS Disk Copy	Multifunctionality; clear interface; completely free; high cloning accuracy.	Lack of Russian
Macrium Reflect	Accessible interface; high speed and compression ratio; choosing a storage location for the image; writing data to optical media; built-in backup scheduler; Free download.	Lack of Russian
Paragon Drive Backup	Multifunctionality; hints of "masters"; support for any Microsoft OS; choice of storage location; full or partial cloning.	Paid license
FarStone DriveClone	Free program; work in real time without rebooting the PC; cloning in whole and in part; reliability.	Does not support Windows OS versions higher than 8.1
Seagate Disk Wizard	Completely free; Russian-language and accessible interface; Support for Windows 10 / 8.1 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP 32|64-bit; Two modes of operation.	Only for PCs using Seagate and Maxtor hard drives
AOMEI Backupper	Creation of copies without interruption of work; Supports Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP; Disk cloning; Full and partial copying; Copy encryption.	The need to install a localizer.
clonezilla	Support for all OS; Free access; Work with most file systems; The ability to compress the image; Capture an image remotely and locally.	Lack of Russian language; Run from disk to create images; Backup of individual files and directories is not possible; Only a full backup of a disk or partition.
	Support for Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP; High clone accuracy; Support for IDE/ATA/SATA hard drives; Cloning and creating virtual images.	Multifunctionality and high speed of work only in plate versions
Renee Becca	Copy, clone and restore; support for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000, 2003.	Difficulty downloading for Windows 10 users;

#1 Acronis True Image

Acronis True Image 2019 for Windows

Version: 2020

Developer: Acronis

License: trialware

Download 500 Mb

Read also:Transferring the system to an SSD: Transferring data and operating system

Acronis True Image is one of the most popular backup software. The program has wide functionality that will help solve many problems with.

To be more precise, Acronis True Image is a whole package of various programs. On the official website, you can read the instructions and get acquainted with the new products.

Developers are constantly expanding the possibilities and adapting it to the most ordinary user. The presence of the Russian language and a simple interface make it very easy for even a beginner to work.

The main functions of the program:

• Home data protection. This means that you can not only track all the devices (that use the same account), but also control them.
• Possibility of data synchronization. This means that a user can have the same data on all computers. In addition, all synchronized data and their versions are stored in Acronis Cloud.
• Disk cloning. A few simple manipulations and the program will create a copy of the disk.
• Ability to backup folders and files. This means that you can copy images, videos, audios, and other files selectively. That is, there is no need to copy all sections that contain these files.
• Full disk backup capability. That is, you can make a copy of all the data on the disk.
• Data archiving function. This means that files that are rarely used or large files can be transferred to a removable drive (external hard drive, USB drive, NAS device) or to the Acronis cloud.
• Ability to create bootable media. That is, you can run the program even on a faulty computer.
• The presence of various tools for connection and protection, security and privacy utilities, management and disk cloning utilities.

Probably the only drawback for the average user will be the presence of a paid license.

Although for such a vast number of functions, a fee of 1,700 rubles. not so great.

Download

VIDEO: The easy way to clone a hard drive or SSD with Acronis True Image

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

#2 EASEUS Disk Copy

Read also:TOP 15 Windows disk defragmentation software: choose the best utility

EASEUS Disk Copy is another fairly "strong" program for disk cloning, or rather a set of programs.

The program runs as a boot disk. It is free and has a wide range of features.

• Program in English.

Download

VIDEO: Clone Windows from Hard Drive to SSD

How to: Clone Windows 10 Hard Drive to SSD -- EaseUS Disk Copy 3.0

#3 Macrium Reflect

Read also:5 Tips for Setting Up the Windows Page File (7/8/10)

Macrium Reflect is another hard drive software.

Main options:

• Does not require restarting Windows (creates a system image on the fly).
• You can choose where to store the created image (optical media, local hard drive, or network drive).
• You can copy data both partially and create a complete disk image.
• High speed.
• High compression ratio.
• The presence of a built-in scheduler for data backup.
• Possibility of record on CD/DVD.

The utility has a simple and accessible interface, but in English.

Download

#4 Paragon Drive Backup

Read also:The computer does not see the hard drive - what to do?

Paragon Drive Backup is another multifunctional tool that allows you to clone data.

The developers have tried to "invest" in the program of opportunities to the maximum. Paragon Drive Backup was created in such a way that you can forget about the possibility of losing data.

Key features:

• The presence of a user interface that is controlled by "wizards". This means that you can not waste time studying the instructions, since all actions are accompanied by hints.
• If the system fails, it is enough to restore the backup copy (which will take several minutes) and you can continue working.
• For all program options, a context-sensitive hint system is provided.
• Compatible with Microsoft operating systems.
• Compatible with any computer equipment.
• Possibility to choose the data storage location.
• The ability to clone both the entire disk and its individual partitions.
• Ability to backup without interrupting Windows.
• Ability to interrupt copying without losing data.
• Ability to recover data from a partition, hard drive or any combination of disks and partitions from a single archive.
• Ability to create a boot disk on removable media.

The program has many other advantages. But there is also a significant drawback of the price of the license.

Download

#5 FarStone DriveClone

Read also:TOP-15 programs for checking hard disk sectors

FarStone DriveClone is a free utility that is simple and reliable. The main function of the program is hard drive cloning.

Main options:

• Backup of absolutely all data (including system settings and partition information) with subsequent saving.
• The ability to clone both individual segments and the entire disk.
• Work in real time, without rebooting the system.
• All data can be transferred to any removable media or to another PC hard drive as a compressed archive.
• Ability to clone large disks.

FarStone DriveClone does not have multifunctionality, but it performs the main task. But there is a significant drawback: the program does not support Windows older than version 8.1

.

Also worth mentioning is the FarStone RestoreIT Pro version.

It combines not only the ability to clone a hard drive, but also the ability to copy data to a backup.

Download

#6 Seagate Disk Wizard

Seagate Disk Wizard is free software from the developers of Acronis True Image. To be more precise, this is its free version.

Key features:

The program is very simple and easy to understand. But there is one limitation: it is only suitable for PCs that use Seagate and Maxtor hard drives.

Download

#7 AOMEI Backupper

AOMEI Backupper is a free application created for data backup, system and disk recovery.

The main functions of the program:

• Create backups without interrupting your work on your PC.
• Ability to clone disks and partitions.
• Backup encryption (password protection).
• Full and partial copying of data.
• Ability to create bootable media.
• Supports Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP.

The program is multifunctional and accessible to a wide range of users. Probably, the only drawback is the need for additional installation of the crack.

Download

#8 Clonezilla

After buying a new HDD or SSD, the first question that arises is what to do with the operating system currently in use. Not many users have a need to install a clean OS, but on the contrary, they want to clone an existing system from an old disk to a new one.

So that the user who decides to upgrade the hard drive does not have to reinstall the operating system, there is the possibility of transferring it. In this case, the current user profile is saved, and in the future you can use Windows in the same way as before performing the procedure.

Usually, those who want to divide the OS itself and user files into two physical drives are interested in the transfer. After moving, the operating system will appear on the new hard drive, and remain on the old one. In the future, it can be removed from the old hard drive by formatting, or left as a second system.

First, the user needs to connect a new drive to the system unit and make sure that the PC has detected it (this is done through the BIOS or Explorer).

Method 1: AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard Edition

Unlike the previous two programs, Macrium Reflect cannot pre-allocate a free partition on the drive where the OS will be transferred. This means that user files from disk 2 will be deleted. Therefore, it is best to use a blank HDD.

1. Click on the link "Clone this disk..." in the main window of the program.



2. The Migration Wizard opens. At the top, select the HDD you want to clone from. By default, all drives can be selected, so uncheck those drives you don't want to use.



3. Click the link at the bottom of the window "Select a disk to clone to..." and select the hard drive to which you want to clone.



4. With Disk 2 selected, you can use the link with cloning options.



5. Here you can configure the space that will be occupied by the system. By default, a partition with no free space will be created. We recommend adding at least 20-30 GB (or more) to the system partition for correct future updates and Windows needs. You can do this with knobs or by entering numbers.



6. If desired, you can choose the drive letter yourself.



7. The rest of the parameters do not need to be changed.
8. In the next window, you can set up a cloning schedule, but we don't need it, so just click Next.



9. A list of actions that will be performed with the drive will be displayed, click Finish.



10. In the window with the offer to make restore points, agree or reject the offer.



11. OS cloning will start and you will be notified when it is completed "Clone completed", indicating that the migration was successful.
12. Now you can boot from the new drive, having previously made it the main one for booting in the BIOS. How to do this, see Method 1.

We talked about three ways to transfer the OS from one drive to another. As you can see, this is a very simple process and you won't usually run into any errors. After cloning Windows, you can check the drive for health by booting the computer from it. If there are no problems, you can remove the old HDD from the system unit or keep it as a spare.

When replacing a hard drive with a new one, for example, a more capacious or high-speed one, as a rule, it becomes necessary to transfer information to it from the old drive.

If you do it manually - reinstall the system, programs and copy user files, then you can spend a whole day.

It is much more convenient to entrust this to automation - special programs for cloning hard drives. With their help, all files, settings and the system itself will simply “move to a new place of residence” in the form in which they were on the old media.

Cloning a hard disk is a low-level sector-by-sector transfer of data from one medium to another. In this case, the clone disk will be an exact copy of the original disk.

Cloning a hard drive

A lot of paid and free programs have been released to create clone disks. Among them there are universal ones that work with any HDD and SSD, and highly specialized ones designed for drives of a certain brand, for example, only Samsung or only Western Digital.

Let's take a look at five popular and easiest-to-use programs for cloning hard drives to SSD or HDD of any manufacturer.

EASEUS Disk Copy

Farstone RestoreIT Pro is primarily a system and user data recovery tool after crashes, virus attacks, changes and accidental deletions.

As such, this program does not create disk clones, but it can create backups of any information on them.

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

RestoreIT Pro features:

• the ability to restore the system even after the bootloader is damaged;
• 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 a paid license ($24.95) and the lack of a disk cloning function.

Initial conditions: Your system has more than one hard drive. The operating system is already installed on one of them, and on the second you installed Windows 7. There was a need to remove a hard drive from the system on which Windows 7 is not installed. But it turned out that without this disk your system does not want to boot.

This happened because one of the three conditions for a successful boot was no longer met:

• the partition from which the boot is performed must be active;
• The boot sector of the partition must be compatible with bootmgr;
• the active partition must contain the operating system boot files. For Windows 7 this is the file bootmgr and the boot configuration data store ( BCD), located in a hidden and system folder Boot.

Consider the solution to the problem using the configuration example shown in the figure

The screenshot of Disk Management shows that the C: drive, on which Windows 7 is installed, is not active. Drive D: is active. Windows 7 boot files (they are hidden and system ones) on drive C: will also not be found. Task: move the bootloader from drive D: to drive C:, that is, ensure that the above conditions are met.

Using a Windows 7 Installation or Recovery Disc

With these discs, transferring boot files is easy. Physically disconnect the "unnecessary" hard drive, boot from the disk, setting the CD-DVD drive in the BIOS as the first boot device, enter the recovery environment. After the scan and search for installed operating systems is completed, perform "Startup Repair". The recovery program will prepare the hard drive as needed and copy the necessary files to it. After the reboot, the ability to download will be restored.

If you do not have an installation disk or a recovery disk, you can use the method described below.

Transferring boot files using the bcdboot.exe utility

It is conditionally possible to divide the upcoming operation into three stages, corresponding to the three necessary conditions for a successful download.

First: go to the "Disk Management" snap-in (Win + R, in the "Run" line, type diskmgmt.msc and click OK) and see what letter is assigned to the first left partition of the disk that you plan to keep. It is this partition that we will make bootable and active: right-click on the selected partition and select the "Make partition active" context menu item. Note that this section must have a "main" attribute.

Second: run a command prompt with administrator privileges. All commands, which will be discussed below, will be executed sequentially without exiting the command line.

DISKPART list disk sel disk X list partition sel part 1 active exit

where X is the number of the disk to be left in the list of disks (command list disk).

To do this, you need a utility bootsect.exe, which, in the absence of an installation disk, can be obtained here. Download and unzip it in advance, for example, to the root directory of the C: partition.

C:\bootsect /nt60 All /force

note: experience shows that if there are 2 or more HDDs in the configuration, the key /force necessary.

Bcdboot %Windir% /l ru-Ru /s С:

Key /l- selection of language options for the download manager. If your system is not Russian, use other values ​​of this key, for example, en-Us for English, de-DE for German, etc.

Key /s- Specifies the volume letter assigned to the target system partition to which the boot environment files are copied. This is the section that we have made active. Since the command firmware uses the current system partition by default (before removing the hard drive, it is the D: partition), applying this key with the letter of the intended boot partition is necessarily!

1. We make the disk active. There are two ways to make the desired section active.
2. Overwrite the boot sector (make it compatible with bootmgr):
3. Move the BCD and bootmgr file to the new active partition:

Checking and editing BCD

Execute the command

bcdedit /store C:\boot\bcd

Enlarge picture

Based on the results of the command, check the parameters (underlined in the screenshot):

• in the "Windows Boot Manager" section device should be equal to the letter of the new active partition, in our case - and osdevice must be equal to the letter of the partition where the Windows directories are currently located. In our case, this is also WITH:.
• in case of inconsistency, make the necessary changes using the commands:

bcdedit /store C:\boot\bcd /set (bootmgr) device partition=C: bcdedit /store C:\boot\bcd /set (current) device partition=C: bcdedit /store C:\boot\bcd /set ( current) osdevice partition=C:

Usually, the execution of commands is not required, but it does not hurt to check. Instead of an identifier (current), it can be (default), or even alphanumeric. Then in the commands you need to use the one that is used for loading.

Thus, transferring boot files to another drive is not such a difficult task.

Instead of a conclusion, or "Russian-language multi-boot menu"

Due to the fact that the startup repair program running from the recovery environment uses the "default" parameters, the language of the boot manager becomes English. In the presence of a single bootable system, this is not noticeable, but in the presence of a multiboot menu, it is striking. If this does not suit you, run on the command line:

bcdboot %Windir% /l en-Ru

You need to execute it after transferring the download files to a new partition.