Question best (free) disk cloning software?

[Homerboy]

going to a friends business tonight to replace his boot drive with a larger capacity SSD. It's been quite some time since I've done a disk clone (let alone on a boot drive). What's the recommended software nowadays? Ideally free/trial of course 🙂
Thanks!

 

[Tech Junky]

I use clonezilla but, there's tons of options like boosting into Linux livecd and cloning from there. Alot of drive vendors ship with macrium as well. Just Google cloning software and you'll find all of the different options.

https://www.techradar.com/best/best-disk-cloning-software

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Macrium Reflect has been my go to for years. Free and easy to use. Remember to expand the C: partition since you are going to a larger drive.

 

[Tech Junky]

expand the C:

or shrink it and add a 2nd partition for storage. I set my W partition at 100GB during setup for a couple of reasons like my typical all in use isn't near that number and there are security risks with larger partitions with a shadow process.




On the linux side though I shrink the EFI to 50MB as it's the bare minimum. The / just set for the rest of the disk but, could confine it to a whole lot less than W.

nvme0n1 259:0 0 931.5G 0 disk
├─nvme0n1p1 259:1 0 49M 0 part /boot/efi
└─nvme0n1p2 259:2 0 931.5G 0 part /

 

[daveybrat]

AOMEI Backupper Standard Edition 6.9.2 is freeware and works great. It has a nice GUI and easy to use.

Download Free Windows Backup Software | AOMEI Backupper

Free download AOMEI backup software to protect your data and system continuously by its backup, restore, clone, sync features or useful utilities.

www.ubackup.com

 

[mindless1]

Many SSD brands come with disk cloning software, like Acronis Trueimage or NTI Echo , and work as long as that brand of drive is connected.

When I write "come with", I really mean you qualify for a license, some of them you download from the SSD manufacturer's website and are given an install key when you register, while others only detect if that brand of SSD is installed to validate the install.

 

[pcgeek11]

I have been using Macrium Reflect Free for Many Years with no issues. I think that it is up to Version 8 on the free version.

Macrium Reflect Free Trials

Macrium Reflect - Incredibly powerful software that allows you to create and schedule effective backups

www.macrium.com

 

[balloonshark]

Another Macrium Reflect user. I imaged two Windows 8 PCs then did the free upgrade to Windows 10 before the free cutoff date. Then I reimaged the drives back to Windows 8 with no issues.

 

[Iron Woode]

there are a number of free disk cloning apps. Some have limits and others don't.

 

[GrumpyMan]

As others have stated Macrium Reflect for me too, many years now. Saved my ass countless times too, good support if needed.

 

[Jimminy]

When it comes to cloning software, I choose Macrium Reflect. It's free and easy to use, so it's perfect for your needs.

Not free any more. They discontinued the free edition recently. If you already have a copy installed you can continue to use it, but no updates.

 

[IBMJunkman]

Can Macrium be run from a bootable CD?

 

[pcgeek11]

Can Macrium be run from a bootable CD?

It can be ran from a bootable USB Stick. so It should run from a bootable CD also.

Install Macrium.
Use it to create an ISO Rescue Media File
Burn ISO File to CD.

 

[balloonshark]

I just cloned my sister's laptop HDD to an SDD and I made and used a macrium boot usb stick. I believe there was also an option to make a bootable cd/dvd.

Edit: I just checked and yes their is an option to make a cd/dvd rescue disk.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

If I clone my main boot gaming drive (M.2 nvme W10) onto a different M.2 nvme drive will it behave the same like boot perfectly normal, games will have no issues, etc.

Thanks

 

[TheELF]

If I clone my main boot gaming drive onto a different M.2 nvme drive will it behave the same like boot perfectly normal, games will have no issues, etc.

Thanks

If you then connect it to the same port as the old one, yes. Excluding any titles where the anti piracy will act up due to change of hardware.
Otherwise you have to re configure your bios to use the new drive as the boot drive.

Also it seems it's not a widely known fact but most partition tools also have the option to do partition and/or disk clones.