After the transfer, you must make sure that the new data medium is bootable and recognized when booting. If a system is to be cloned, it’s a little more complicated. If the target SSD is already built into a stationary PC, external connections are not required.Ī simple hard drive clone with user data can be created quickly and there usually no problems if suitable software is used. There are also affordable docking stations that you can plug an SSD into and then connect it to the computer by USB. If a notebook hard drive is being transferred to a new SSD, you will need an external hard drive enclosure or an SATA-to-USB cable. The new hard drive should have as much, or more, memory than the old medium. When cloning a hard drive, there are certain technical requirements that must be met. It stores the data in a compressed form and can also be integrated into backup strategies, such as incremental and differential backups, and it saves storage space. For daily backups, it’s better to back up your drive using an image file. It’s a good idea to create a cloned replacement data medium for emergencies at longer intervals. Some users also clone hard drives to back up data because they want to be able to quickly fall back on a ready-to-use complete solution with a functioning operating system in the event of a virus attack, for example.

In addition, not only programs, but also individual user-specific settings and adjustments of programs are automatically adopted. Important user data and tools for everyday work, like email programs and painstakingly built bookmark lists, are available straight away.

After a successful migration, a computer with a bootable hard drive including Windows can be booted up and used in its original state immediately. As well as extensive quantities of data, you can also transfer an entire operating system. People usually clone hard drives when they need to switch from a hard drive (Hard Disk Drive /HDD) to a larger or a significantly faster SSD (Solid State Drive).

Macrium reflect clone to larger drive