Updated by

Sherly

Updated on April 22, 2024

If you've recently purchased new storage for your computer, knowing how to clone a hard drive in Windows 10 can make migrating your data much easier. Whether it's due to limited space, improved performance, or taking advantage of cutting-edge features like UEFI or support for GPT disks, there are plenty of reasons to clone. An upgrade to a new SSD drive can breathe years of life into a desktop or laptop. Thankfully, cloning a hard drive isn't as difficult as it sounds, and getting familiar with the process is essential before making a clone.

Read on to find out if Windows 10 can be cloned and how to clone Windows 10 with professional tools.

Can Windows 10 be cloned?

Yes, Windows 10 can be cloned. Cloning comes in handy when you need to back up or transfer data, as it allows you to copy the contents of your hard drive. An added benefit is that it lets you迁移your Windows 10 installation while preserving all your personal settings and preferences.

Why is cloning your Windows 10 drive better than simply copying everything over? For one, moving everything from one drive to another can cause issues where applications can't find their program files, and it can leave your new drive in an unorganized state. Also, copying files over won't make the new drive bootable.

So it's best to clone your new drive rather than simply copy and paste your operating system over. That way, your new drive will become the primary one, and the old one can be used for storage.

The main advantage of cloning Windows 10:

    • It's simple to back up the system. • It avoids manual reinstallation. • It frees up space on the original disk. • Downtime is greatly reduced, since the cloned disk can be used immediately.

So, we hope you understand the meaning and benefits of cloning a hard drive on Windows 10. Now, let's move to the next part to learn how to clone Windows 10 with the professional tool – Partition Master.

A professional Windows 10 cloning tool

With just a few steps, you can clone Windows 10 with the professional tool – Partition Master. This software contains a tool called “Clone System Disk,” which copies the operating system and its associated partitions to a new drive. Plus, the whole process is straightforward.

Download the Partition Master tool and start the process by following the on-screen instructions.

Features of Partition Master Tool

    • Transfer OS to SSD
    • Clone larger HDD to smaller SSD
    • Clone SD card to external hard drive
    • Clone Windows to an external hard drive
    • Clone external hard drive, USB drive, or SD card
    • Format the hard drive after cloning

With Partition Master, cloning Windows to a new hard drive is a straightforward process. Once the clone is done, you can boot Windows from the newly created clone. Additionally, it lets you quickly migrate your OS to an HDD or SSD with just a few clicks.

Here are the steps for using this tool:

Tip:
To clone an SD card/USB device/external hard drive with data to a new one, connect both the external storage device you want to clone and the new removable device (SD card/USB device/external hard drive) with larger capacity to your computer beforehand.

Step 1: Clone an external storage device (SD card/USB/external hard drive)

    < li > 1. Click on the "Clone" tab, select "Clone System Disk" and click "Next" to proceed. < li > 2. Select a source disk, and choose a new device (SD card/USB/external hard drive/hard drive) as the target disk, then click "Next". < li > 3. Click "Yes" to confirm the warning message.
Select the target device to begin cloning.

Step 2: Keep all changes

    1. Check the source disk layout (you can edit the disk by clicking "Adjust the disk size automatically" or "Clone to the same size as source disk"). 2. Click "Start" to begin the cloning process. 3. Wait for the cloning to finish.
Copy disk 4

Conclusions

Disk cloning is an excellent technique for making an exact copy of a hard drive, whether you need extra storage or want to upgrade from an HDD to an SSD.

Cloning is a simple and versatile process, used to make backups, upgrade to a larger hard drive, or transfer data to a new computer. Though it might seem intimidating at first, cloning is actually the easiest and most straightforward way to move your operating system and files to a new drive.

When choosing a disk cloning software, consider what you need. For most users, the Partition Master tool should be more than enough. Hopefully, this article has helped you understand how to clone Windows 10.

Can Windows 10 be cloned? FAQ

Have more questions about cloning Windows 10? Check out the frequently asked questions below:

1. Can I clone my Windows 10 to another computer?

Yes, you can. Depending on the hardware of your new computer, you can choose to restore a Windows backup image or clone the Windows 10 hard drive to transfer Windows 10. Before getting started, it's recommended to prepare a USB-to-SATA cable to connect the target drive.

2. Can I clone a Windows 10 hard drive?

Yes, you can. Any HDD can be cloned or moved to a different computer. You can use third-party software to copy Windows 10 from your old computer to a new one with a bootable drive. This method also ensures that the cloned drive will boot on the new computer.

**3. Should I reinstall or clone Windows?**

If your hard drive and Windows installation are working correctly, you only need disk/partition cloning software. On the other hand, if you're having issues with the operating system or the hard drive, you should opt for a clean install of Windows instead.