The best tools to perform the HDD cloning procedure. Hard drive cloning Backup and recovery software

Good day.

Very often, in many instructions, before updating drivers or installing any application, it is recommended to make a backup copy to restore the computer, Windows. I must admit that I often give the same recommendations ...

In general, Windows has a built-in recovery function (unless you turned it off, of course), but I would not call it super-reliable and convenient. In addition, it should be noted that such a backup will not help in all cases, plus add to this that it restores with data loss.

In this article, I would like to talk about one of the ways that will help you make a reliable backup of the entire hard disk partition with all documents, drivers, files, Windows OS, etc.

So, let's begin…

1) What do we need?

1. Flash drive or CD/DVD

Why is this? Imagine some kind of error has occurred, and Windows no longer boots - just a black screen appears and that's it (by the way, this can happen after a “harmless” sharp power outage) ...

To run the recovery program, we need a pre-created emergency flash drive (well, or a disk, just a flash drive is more convenient) with a copy of the program. By the way, any flash drive will do, even some old 1-2 GB.

2. Software for backup and recovery

In general, there are a lot of such programs. Personally, I suggest choosing Acronis True Image...

Acronis True Image

Key benefits (in terms of backups):

• - quick backup of the hard drive (for example, on my PC, the system partition of the hard drive with Windows 8 with all programs and documents takes 30 GB - the program made a complete copy of this "good" in just half an hour);
• - simplicity and convenience of work (full support for the Russian language + intuitive interface, even a novice user can handle it);
• - simple creation of a bootable flash drive or disk;
• - hard disk backup is compressed by default (for example, my copy of a 30 GB HDD partition was compressed to 17 GB, i.e. almost 2 times).

The only drawback is that the program is paid, although not expensive (however, there is a test period).

2) Back up the hard drive partition

After installing and launching Acronis True Image, you should see something like this window (a lot depends on the version of the program you will be using, in my screenshots the program is 2014).

Immediately on the first screen, you can select the backup function. Launching… (see screenshot below).

The disks to which we will make backups (here you choose yourself, I recommend choosing the system disk + the disk that the Windows system reserved, see the screenshot below).

Specify a location on another hard drive where the backup will be stored. It is advisable to save the backup to a separate hard drive, for example, to an external one (now they are very popular and affordable).

The process of creating a copy will start. The creation time is highly dependent on the size of the hard drive you are making a copy of. For example, my 30 GB disk was completely saved in 30 minutes (even a little less, 26-27 minutes).

In the process of creating a backup, it is better not to load the computer with extraneous tasks: games, movies, etc.

By the way, here's a screenshot of "my computer".

And in the screenshot below, a 17 GB backup.

By making a regular backup (after a lot of work done, before installing important updates, drivers, etc.), you can be more or less calm about the safety of information, and indeed, the performance of your PC.

3) Create a backup flash drive to run the recovery program

When the backup copy of the disk is ready, it is necessary to create another emergency flash drive or disk (in case Windows refuses to boot; and in general, recovery is best done by booting from a USB flash drive).

And so, let's start by going to the section for creating backups and restoring and pressing the button " create bootable media«.

Then we will be asked to specify the media where the information will be written. We select a USB flash drive or disk.

Attention! All information on the flash drive will be deleted during this operation. Don't forget to back up any important files from your flash drive.

Actually everything. If everything went without errors, after about 5 minutes (approximately) a message will appear stating that the bootable media was successfully created ...

4) Restore from backup

When you want to restore all the data from a backup, you need to configure the BIOS to boot from a USB flash drive, insert the USB flash drive and restart the computer.

Backing up the operating system will allow you to quickly restore the health of your computer and all installed programs in the event of a failure in Windows or a computer infection with viruses.

1. What you need for backup

In order to create a reliable copy of the system, you need to set up the computer from scratch, make a complete image of the C drive and the boot partition (if any). This can be done using a dedicated backup program. In this article, we will review the Acronis True Image program.

For a successful system backup and subsequent quick recovery, you need to follow a few simple conditions.

User files should not be stored on the C drive, otherwise they will be lost during system restore. Please note that files on the "Desktop" and in user folders such as "My Documents", etc. are physically located on the C drive. Therefore, store all your files on another partition, such as the "D" drive.

Do not install games on the "C" drive, as they take up a very large amount of space, which will make it difficult to backup and restore the system. Install games on another partition, for example, on the "D" drive.

2. Where to download Acronis True Image

Acronis True Image is one of the best backup software. Its only drawback is that it is paid. But you can download a free trial version. With it, you can make system backups and bootable media for restoring backups for 30 days. After 30 days, only system recovery from previously created backups and bootable media creation will be available.

3. Acronis True Image system requirements

For successful operation of Acronis True Image, it is desirable that the computer meets the following requirements:

• Processor with a frequency of 1 GHz
• The amount of RAM from 1 GB
• Free disk space from 1.5 GB
• Screen resolution from 1152×720
• The presence of a CD / DVD drive or flash drive (for creating bootable media)
• Keyboard and mouse with PS/2 connector (for older PCs)
• Administrator rights (for work from under Windows)

You can try to use the program even if your computer does not meet one or more requirements.

4. Supported operating systems

Acronis True Image supports the following versions of Windows:

• Windows XP SP3
• Windows 7 SP1 (all editions)
• Windows 8 (all editions)
• Windows 8.1 (all editions)
• Windows 10
• Windows Home Server 2011

For Windows, all 32/64-bit versions are supported, except for Windows XP x64. When working from bootable media, you can create and restore partition backups with any version of Windows and Linux.

5. Supported storage media

Acronis True Image can back up partitions located on the following media:

• Hard drives (HDD)
• Flash drives (USB)
• Memory cards (SD, MicroSD, etc.)

Supported partition backup in FAT16, FAT32, NTFS (for Windows), Ext2, Ext3, Ext4, ReiserFS, SWAP (for Linux) format. To back up partitions of other formats and data from damaged or deleted partitions, you can use copying the entire disk in sector-by-sector mode.

6. Supported backup media

Backups can be created on the following media:

• Hard drives (HDD)
• Solid state drives (SSD)
• External drives (USB, eSATA, FireWire, PC Card)
• Flash drives (USB)
• Optical discs (CD, DVD, Blu-ray)
• External network drives
• Drives on other PCs
• FTP servers
• Acronis Cloud storage (paid service)

You can store a backup copy of the operating system on another partition of the hard disk (for example, on the "D" drive). For greater reliability, it is also desirable to copy it to a disk of another computer. But the best option is an external drive, on which you can also store .

Bootable media is a CD/DVD or flash drive from which you can start Acronis True Image if Windows does not boot. You can create a bootable CD/DVD or flash drive using the Bootable Media Builder.

Insert a blank CD/DVD or flash drive and select Acronis Bootable Media.

Select your CD/DVD drive or flash drive.

The flash drive must have a FAT32 or FAT16 file system. The files on the flash drive are not deleted and you can use it as usual, so this is a pretty convenient option.
Transcend JetFlash 790 8Gb

It is better to play it safe and copy all the files from the flash drive to your computer.

Click the Proceed button and the bootable media will be created.

8. Boot recovery

If your computer (laptop) does not have a CD / DVD drive or it does not work well, for some reason you cannot use a flash drive, or you just want to play it safe, then you can enable the "Startup Repair" option.

To do this, select the "More tools" section.

Then "Activate Acronis Startup Recovery Manager".

And confirm activation.

The following message will then appear when the computer boots up.

Pressing the F11 key will launch Acronis True Image, which will allow you to restore your system from a backup.

Please note that in the event of a severe hard drive failure, Startup Repair may stop working. Also, Startup Repair is disabled when Acronis True Image is removed from the computer. Therefore, it is recommended to create a boot disk or flash drive.

9. Create a system backup

The backup copy of the operating system must necessarily include a partition with Windows (drive "C") and a boot partition "Reserved by the system" (if any) with a size of 100-350 MB (depending on the version of Windows).

If you plan to use Startup Repair, then it must be enabled prior to creating a backup.

9.1. Selecting a backup source

To create a backup, open the top tab "Backup" and select the backup source.

Then "Disks and Partitions".

Select the boot partition "System Reserved" (if any) and "Local Disk (C:)".

The data section, where all your files will be located (disk "D"), is unnecessary to select. There may be other partitions on your computer disk.

If the computer has UEFI interface support, then you may see an "Encrypted (EFI) system partition" 200-450 MB in size, which contains the files necessary to boot the system. It is also desirable to include it in the backup.

If you bought a laptop with a preinstalled operating system, then its disk may have additional partitions for system recovery. Then, in addition to the “C” drive, I recommend ticking off all sections of a small volume (somewhere up to 1 GB).

9.2. Choosing a backup location

Now you need to choose the location where the backup will be located.

Click Browse.

It is best to make a separate folder on another partition of the hard drive and save the backup to it, and then copy the backup file somewhere else. I made a "Backup" folder on the "D" drive.

If your computer or laptop does not have a separate partition for data (drive “D”), then to create a backup you will need an external drive, a large flash drive (from 16 GB), blank DVDs (from 4 pcs), a network folder on another PC or access to the Acronis Cloud (paid).

I recommend using an external drive to store a system backup, which is also useful for. You will not only be able to quickly restore the system in case of failure, but also save your valuable documents, photos and videos.

9.3. Starting a backup

Once you have selected the partitions to back up and the location of the backup, click "Backup".

The process of backing up the operating system with installed office programs on a modern computer takes 10-20 minutes and should end with the addition of a new backup to the directory and the appearance of the file in the selected folder.

A Windows 7-10 x64 backup file with installed drivers and basic office programs takes an average of about 15 GB.

10. Restoring a backup

In the event that your computer starts to slow down, malfunction, become infected with a virus, or stop loading altogether, all you need to do is restore the system from a backup.

Please note that all files located on the "C" drive, on the "Desktop" and in user folders such as "My Documents", etc. will be removed. Therefore, place all your files on another partition (disk "D") and make regular backup copies of them.

10.1. Recovery from under Windows

If the computer boots, then System Restore can be started from under Windows. To do this, select a backup and click the "Recover Disks" button.

Select the checkboxes for all partitions from the backup and click "Restore Now".

A successful system restore requires you to restart your computer.

The process of restoring the operating system with installed office programs on a modern computer takes 5-10 minutes.

10.2. Recovery from bootable media

If Windows does not boot, then system recovery can be performed using a bootable CD / DVD, flash drive, or Startup Repair.

If you have enabled Startup Repair, then when the following message appears, quickly press F11.

To start Acronis from media, insert a boot disk or flash drive, turn on the computer and hold down the Boot Menu call key.

The boot menu can be accessed using the F8, F10, F11, F12, or Esc keys. You can often see them in the tooltips on the computer's initial boot screen. You can also find this information from the instructions, on the website of the manufacturer of the motherboard or laptop, by searching the Internet or by typing.

Immediately after turning on the computer, hold down the "Boot Menu" call key until the boot device selection menu appears.

Use the up and down arrows to navigate to the DVD drive or flash drive and press Enter.

Wait for the menu to appear on a blue screen and use the mouse to launch Acronis True Image.

If the mouse does not work, then all actions in the program can be performed using the keyboard. The transition between the items is carried out with the arrows or the "Tab" key, setting the checkboxes with the "Space" key, and confirming the actions and pressing the buttons with the "Enter" key. The transition between the buttons is carried out by the "Tab" key.

Click the Browse button.

Find your backup, select it and click OK.

In this and following windows, drive letters may differ from those assigned in Windows. Be guided by the sizes of sections and folders on them.

Make sure "Recover disks or partitions" is selected.

Select the checkboxes for all sections and click "Next".

Further, depending on the number of partitions being restored, several identical windows will appear for the possibility of manually comparing partitions from the backup with partitions on the disk where the restoration is taking place.

Here, the drive letters usually do not correspond to those assigned in Windows, but the partitions are mapped correctly and it is enough just to click "Next" several times.

If you have multiple hard drives, then to restore the Master Boot Record (MBR), select the drive on which Windows is installed.

The last window will display a summary of all ongoing operations.

Carefully check that the partitions are restored to their original place, otherwise you may overwrite the partition with your files (disk "D"). For reconciliation, it is easy to navigate by the size of the sections. The partitions to be deleted must be identical in size to the ones being restored.

If everything is fine in the summary, then click the "Proceed" button and the partition recovery will begin. If some partition does not match in size, then select it in the left column and indicate where it needs to be restored manually.

The process of restoring the operating system with installed office programs on a modern computer takes 5-10 minutes and should end with a message about successful restoration.

Remove the bootable media, close the program window with the red cross and the computer will restart.

Before starting the backup or restore procedure, you can configure some options.

Usually this is not necessary, but I will tell you a little about some of them. The most interesting settings are on the "Advanced" tab.

I will describe the most useful ones that you may find useful.

Splitting a backup– allows you to split a backup into files of a specified size for writing them to disks of different sizes.

Examination– checking the integrity of the backup after it is created or before restoring to make sure it is in good working order.

Removable media settings– allows you to make backup media simultaneously as Acronis bootable media. The recovery program is written to the first disk with the backup.

Turning off the computer– allows you to configure automatic shutdown of the computer at the end of the backup.

The rest of the settings relate mainly to periodic backups and scheduled backups. You can download a detailed description of all Acronis True Image settings in the "" section.

12. Additional features

Acronis True Image has a number of additional features, which I will briefly describe, but we will not consider them in detail in this article.

Disk Cloning– creating a copy of all or some partitions from one hard disk to another. This is useful when replacing an old hard drive with a new one. If the new disk has a larger or smaller size, then the partitions grow or shrink proportionally, or the new sizes are set manually, which is very convenient.

TransferWindowsonSSD- is done using a clone operation or the usual backup and restore method as described in this article, with changing the size of the partitions if necessary.

Universal restore- allows you to restore a backup copy of the operating system to another computer. This is useful if you bought a new computer or upgraded your old one. In this case, restoring the system to it in the usual way may not work, Windows simply will not boot.

Backing up files and folders– allows you to backup individual folders and files to the selected media or network storage. Conveniently, the files are compressed into an archive that can be password protected. The disadvantage is that the archive with files can only be accessed using the program itself, and it is not practical to store large incompressible files in such an archive, such as videos, disk images, etc.

Acronis cloud- cloud storage, where you can back up system partitions and folders with user files. It can be useful for owners of small disks (SSD) with stable fast internet. You can access your files through a browser from any other computer. But this is a paid service with an annual subscription.

Data synchronization– allows you to synchronize selected folders with Acronis Cloud. This is mainly used to synchronize files between multiple computers and mobile devices.

Data archiving- designed to transfer old files to the Acronis Cloud that take up a lot of space and are used very rarely. The downside is that space in Acronis Cloud is limited and large file operations require a stable fast internet connection.

Scheduled backup- allows you to set up flexible schedules for regularly creating backup copies of the system and folders with files in automatic mode. This can be convenient on computers that are actively used for critical tasks, but to ordinary users, nothing.

Continuous protection- constantly monitors changes on the computer disk and makes backup copies of system and important files for the user and their versions. Constantly consumes computer resources and disk space.

try& Decide(Try and Decide)- a very useful addition for safe experiments. After enabling this feature, all changes on the computer are written to a special storage. For example, you can explore various programs and Internet sites without fear of harming your computer. When you disable Try&Decide mode, you will be prompted to save or discard the changes made to the system.

Security zone- a special hidden partition on the hard drive where you can save backups. I do not recommend using this method, as it has several disadvantages. It is not known in advance how much partition is needed and access to backups is difficult.

Adding a disk– allows you to create partitions on new drives connected to the computer.

Disk Cleanup- secure deletion of files from the disk without the possibility of recovery.

System Disk Cleanup- Free up disk space by deleting temporary files.

Dashboard- allows you to manage backups on all your devices through a single control panel using a browser.

Parallels Access- allows you to get remote access via the Internet to any of your computer or mobile device and manage backups on it.

13. Links

Below you can download Acronis True Image and its full manual with a detailed description of all features and answers to frequently asked questions.

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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.

Hard disk cloning 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.

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 exactly copy the HDD, for example, when replacing a device, then cloning the used hard disk becomes the solution. Many actions can be performed manually, but even if you only need to transfer user data, depending on the volume, the process may take hours, and the system and the necessary software will have to be reinstalled, so it is more efficient to use specialized software for such purposes.

How to clone a hard drive.

The procedure is a complete copy, transfer of data by sector to a new HDD or SSD drive you specified, which allows you to literally “clone” an existing source. The content at the end of the process 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 " move" to another medium. Everything will be exactly the same as on the original device, while you can perform a full clone of the HDD or some of its partitions. In certain cases, this may seem like a better option.

IMPORTANT. Since the created clone will be completely identical to the previous carrier, care must be taken 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 contain 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 in the implementation of 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 powerful SSD (the second option is becoming very popular today, due to the fact that since 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 can use the same Windows operating system, with all its components and settings. On the new media, you do not have to install Windows or customize everything you need to work on your computer. Absolutely nothing will change, except that in the case of transferring to SSD, the system will become many times faster.
• Synchronization of work on different computers. This is not about the scale within any project, specific program or service, for this you can perform other, less global actions. Thanks to the ability to clone a hard drive, you can develop your own field of activity and feel as comfortable as possible in your own working environment using different devices.
• Creating a data backup . For many users, the information recorded in the device's memory is of great importance, especially if it is personal and is not found 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 the cloud storage service, and the volumes may exceed the allowable storage or you will have to pay for storage, and if you have a clone media with your files, they will be safe.

Utilities and programs for cloning

It is not advisable to manually transfer data on a hard disk scale using Windows, all the more there is absolutely no need to do this, because there are special tools for this purpose, and in a large assortment, which 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 clone, for others, the ability to clone an HDD is by no means the only function. Here it is already for the user to choose which program to use, it all depends on which of the options will be more preferable for him. We will look at several handy programs and figure out how to clone a hard drive running Windows 10 or 7.

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

The utility is paid, it creates backups and is used to restore data in case of loss under various conditions, for example, as a result of failures, infection of the device with viruses and other force majeure. Drive clones are not created using this software, but the RestoreIT Pro functionality 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, and full and storage backups are also available.

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

• We launch the software and in the left menu go to the “Clone” section.
• Here we select "Disk Clone" if you want to clone the hard drive.
• Specify the source (“Source disk”) and click the “Next” button.
• Now select the destination drive (“Destination disk”) to which the data will “move”, click “Next”.
• The process will start automatically, 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, designed for 30 days, it will be enough for cloning. Working with Handy Backup is easy:

• We launch the software and select the task type "Create a backup copy", click "Next".
• We specify the data to be copied, for which we expand the "Disk Clone" branch, where we select "System Recovery", click "Add".
• We mark the section "Physical drive" (this is the hard drive).
• Now you need to specify the target drive for "moving" data to it, and then click "Next".
• Choosing the type of copying, we mark "Full".
• You can skip the next step "Compression and Encryption" without changing anything if you don't need to.
• At the next stage, the scheduler setting 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 procedure for full cloning of the HDD will begin, after which you need to reboot the device.

A simple utility with an intuitive menu that will help you transfer all information from media, individual directories or specific system partitions with just a few mouse clicks. To carry out the operation, we perform the following steps:

• Launch the Renee Becca utility.
• We go to the "Clone" section (in the left block of the interface) and select the "Hard disk clone" item. You can also clone a 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 "Make target disk bootable...".
• We open the list by pressing the "More" button and mark the item "Clone of all sectors ...", in this case, the procedure will take a lot of time, but it will make the new drive identical to the previous one.
• The process is started by pressing the "Clone" button at the bottom of the window.

Paid, but multifunctional program. For the procedure for creating a clone of a hard drive, you can also use a trial version. The software is notable for its convenience and good speed, as well as support for numerous versions of Windows. Thanks to the software, you can clone media with different file systems. Consider how to clone a hard drive using Acronis Disk Director:

• We select the media to be cloned (not a partition, but specifically a hard drive), right-click to call the Clone Wizard, select the option "Clone basic disk".
• In the new window, specify the target device where the data will be transferred. If there is any information on the "recipient", it will be overwritten. Click "Next" after the selection is made.
• The next window asks you to select a clone method. If you want the new drive to be completely identical to the "donor", select the "One to One" item and click "Finish".
• In the main window, you will need to confirm the action with the HDD, for which we click "Apply pending operations", confirm the intention.
• The program will restart the computer and perform 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 built into the 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 see 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 specify the drive where we transfer the information.
• Click "Finish" and wait for the end of the process.

The program is a toolkit for creating backups, restoring and cloning drives and their partitions. Its interface is simple and convenient, and all manipulations in the course of work will be accompanied by the prompts of the "wizard", so you do not have to study the instructions for working in the application. The program is launched both from under Windows and from bootable media. The software is paid, but a trial version will be enough for cloning. After launching the application, we perform the following actions:

• Create an account by entering your email address and personal information.
• In the block on the left, click "My new backup".
• We select the source in the "Backup source" field and the drive on which we will write the data in the "Destination" field.
• There are several settings, but you can not change anything. The process will start after pressing the "Back up now" button.

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

• We open the program, on the main page we go to the "Quick Selection" 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 allows you to make a copy 100% identical to the original, and also speeds up the process of transferring information. If necessary, you can check the "Defragmentation" function, it will be performed after the main process. When the necessary settings are made, click "Next".
• A reboot will be required upon completion of the process.

A functional program that clones HDD by sectors and works with any file systems. The software allows you to clone both the entire disk and its part, including deleted, hidden and protected elements. For the cloning procedure, a free demo version is enough. The product is not Russified, which may cause inconvenience to some users. Another drawback is the ads that go like a steam locomotive to the software, but given the fact that the utility is free and good enough, you can turn a blind eye to this. To perform HDD cloning, do the following:

• We launch the utility and select the Disk Mode to create a completely identical disk (it is also possible to clone individual partitions, 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" box, which will allow you to make an identical disk by copying each sector.
• Select the drive where we will write information, and click "Next".
• Reboot to complete the procedure.

Another well-known product that is multifunctional and also used for hard drive cloning. The utility transfers selected partitions, files or the entire disk, including hidden items. The created clones can be saved in the Acronis Cloud, from where they can be accessed from any device. The application can be run 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 designed for 30 days). You can make an 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).
• We mark the source disk, 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, restart the computer.

After cloning using any of the tools, you can disable the old drive or change the boot priority in the BIOS settings. You can specify the new media from which the OS should now be loaded via 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 HDD to SSD system, you will get a much more productive OS. In addition, any software will run faster on the SSD, so the transfer of the operating system and software will increase 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 a new drive as a place to copy information. After that, the OS will need to be removed 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 expedient to transfer only the system and programs), do not forget about the volume of the new media, since solid state drives do not differ in large capacity. To successfully clone a hard disk, the SSD must not be smaller than the information "moving" to it.

Although the backup procedure can be carried out using standard tools, it is still easier to implement using special software, since programs allow you to copy hidden files. At the same time, most utilities are freely available or have trial versions, which is quite enough for an ordinary user.

A bootable copy of a hard drive has many advantages: if the system partition stops functioning, you won't need to reinstall the operating system and applications. Simply replace the failed media, mount the copy as a new drive, and get on with your work. Unlike conventional backups, our EaseUs Disk Copy (easeus.com) solution does not work with zipped files, but with an exact duplicate, in which you can view all folders and files through Windows Explorer. For this option, you will need a target disk no smaller than the system partition itself, which can hit the pockets of owners of inexpensive computers who have one hard drive for all purposes. To save space, you can save the system by creating an image using Windows. However, this option has its limitations: to boot from the image, you will need a special rescue disk. Both solutions are not laborious - in a couple of clicks you will create a clone of your system partition.

Clean first, then copy

On the following pages, we will show you step by step how to quickly copy a hard drive and then restore it. However, it only makes sense to do this with a Windows partition free of junk, bugs, and viruses. Before completing the task, remove all digital "garbage" and unnecessary programs. Thoroughly scan the disk for viruses, and then defragment it, as well as check for physical errors. For more information on this topic, see the article “Speeding up the “seven” twice” from CHIP #3 2013. Thanks to this cleaning, you will reduce the size of the system partition, and the copy will work faster.

Clean OS image using Windows utility

Windows' native tool for taking a full system image after a hard drive failure will restore your OS without reinstalling.

1 RUN THE BACKUP WIZARD If XP users can save their entire system only with the help of separate programs, often paid (for example, Paragon Drive Backup), then Windows 7 owners get a built-in service for this purpose. It is launched through the Start | Control panel | System and security | Backup and restore | Creation of a system image.

2 CHOOSE THE TARGET DISK At this point, the wizard will ask you to specify the target drive. To create a backup, it is best to select an external USB drive, which can be set from the "On the hard disk" list. The "On DVD" option no longer makes sense in the terabyte era. If your computer is connected to a local network, you can also place a backup copy on a dedicated server.

3 BACKUP THE WHOLE SYSTEM If your hard drive is divided into multiple partitions, you must choose which partition to back up. The wizard then tells you how much free space is required for this. When archiving, Windows compresses data by about a factor of two. On our test machine, a 44.8 GB dataset required 35.19 GB of free space. In the next step, the wizard will display the selected disks. If everything is correct, click on the "Archive" button. While the backup is in progress, you can continue working on your computer as usual. Our process took about 40 minutes.

4 CREATE A WINDOWS RECOVERY DISK Immediately after archiving, the wizard will prompt you to create recovery media. Click on "Yes" and insert a blank CD or DVD into the drive. Then click on the "Create Disc" button - Windows will start writing all the necessary files to the disc.

5 REANIMATE OS Now you need to test the result and make sure that, if necessary, system recovery will go smoothly. This can be done both in Windows and using the rescue disk. Restart your computer and enter the keyword "recovery" in the Start menu. Click on the line with the result, then select "Advanced Recovery Methods | Use the system image you created earlier to restore your computer." The wizard will prompt you to back up any data added after the OS image was created. To do this, click on the "Archive" button. If you do not want to archive these files, you can skip the step by clicking on the appropriate button. In both cases, you will need to restart your computer. From this point on, further actions with the rescue disk are exactly the same. Select the "Use the latest available system image" option in the wizard. Click on "OK" in a few more dialog boxes, and then click on the "Finish" button.

Bootable copy using EasyUS Disk Copy

Unlike the system image created by Windows, EaseUS Disk Copy prepares an identical bootable duplicate hard drive.

1 COPY THE PROGRAM TO A USB DRIVE OR CD During its operation, Windows protects important system areas. In this case, the EaseUS Disk Copy program cannot copy them, so you should burn it to a USB flash drive or CD, and then start the computer from this drive. Immediately after calling the application, select the desired media and click on "Proceed". On our SanDisk flash drive, this utility took up 35 MB.

2 REBOOT THE COMPUTER The copy program writes the Syslinux bootloader to a USB stick or blank CD. After that, restart your computer and use the "F2" or "Delete" key to enter the BIOS. Set your USB drive or DVD drive here as "First Boot Device" and save your changes by pressing the "F10" key. After rebooting the PC from removable media, according to the manufacturer, you should see the Syslinux screen, on which you need to select "Start Disk Copy 2.3". On our test system, however, the XP-style wizard appeared immediately. In its window, click on "Next".

3 CHOOSE THE TYPE OF COPYING If your computer has only one large system disk that is not partitioned into additional partitions, select the "Disk Copy" option in the wizard to copy the entire hard disk to another medium. If there are several partitions, use the "Partition Copy" option and specify the system one.

4 INDICATE SOURCE AND PURPOSE Now in the wizard you should mark the disk or partition that will be copied. After clicking on the "Next" button, you will be able to select the target drive. If it is larger than the source, the program will indicate it. You can avoid the error message by creating a new partition on the target disk that matches the size of the source disk before copying. To do this, however, you must go to the Windows interface and do this, for example, in the section "Computer Management | Hard Disk Management. The target disk must be at least as large as the source disk, otherwise an exact copy cannot be created.

5 COPY A DISC In the next step, EaseUS Disk Copy will display general information about the upcoming copy. With a larger target disk, you will see all the partitions of the source, and the remaining space on the media will be marked as unused ("Unallocated"). If all the data is correct, activate the "Quiet mode", then click on "Proceed" and click on the "OK" button of the warning window to start copying the disc. As a result, you will get a physically exact duplicate of the original media, including its boot sectors.

6 RECOVERY OF THE SYSTEM After replacing the hard drive, start the computer from the copy and use EaseUS Disk Copy to transfer the working system to the new media.