Best free Cloning Program

Vince_1701 · May 26, 2018

Hi, I want to clone my hard drive, a toshiba sata, 1 gig, to a new WD 1 gig (blue) sata. I tried using the Macrium Relect program, free, but right near the begininng at the 7 or 8% point, it said clone failed, it wasn'r allowed to 'read' the source drive. 1) why couldn't it read the source drive, it's error free, 2) Is there a preferred MB slot to put the original drive and the recieving drive, and 3) What's the easiest, simplest free cloning program for sata? MB is an Intel DG33BU. Thanks!

R0GG · May 26, 2018

Best free cloning software with ease of use and intuitive interface:Macrium Reflect free (home edition free) >> https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.
- try also switching drives connection to motherboard, full scan of both drives
- or try usb route using aomei backupper free Backup or Clone HDD to SSD via USB >>https://www.backup-utility.com/articles/clone-hdd-to-ssd-via-usb-0708.html

CountMike · May 26, 2018

USAFRet · May 26, 2018

Vince_1701 :

I use Macrium Reflect exclusively.

If it can't read the source drive, something is wrong with it.
What tools have you used to test it?

(this works the same for HDD's.)
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the 450MB Recovery Partition, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
-----------------------------

poarec · Nov 7, 2018

USAFRet :

USAFRet,
I am a novice.
I am astonished with your response. (Sorry for my english from Brazil):
I have seen several tutorials about Macrium Reflect, how "easy" is it..., but your path (power off /power on, etc)
seems indeed much more interface difficult for no advanced users.
At least, not for one that is the first time to wish to create an Image.
I wish only to make Image Full and Incremental, withouth errors.
What do you thing about AOMEI Backupper paid version 2018/2019??
I intend to continue with my Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bits /MO Gigabyte H81N-D2H / Processor i3-4330 /RAM DDR3 12 (8 + 4) / HD WD 1 T / antivírus Avira Pro .(Both RAM and HDD Spaces are too much for my simple use ). So, After 2019 or 2020, even paying too annual Support Microsoft, I wont get support or important updates.
Sorry, ir Iam here with such a fool question among your all.

USAFRet · Nov 7, 2018

poarec :

The above steps speak to cloning.
You're talking about backups.
2 different things.

And I use Macrium for backups as well.
The steps linked below may seem a bit "complex", but its actually pretty easy.
Full+ Incremental or Differential, with Macrium.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3383768/backup-situation-home.html

poarec · Nov 7, 2018

thanks a lot

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