How to Clone Windows to Another Drive [Latest Solutions]

Updated By

Linda 

Written By

Cici 

Last Updated on April 22, 2024

Disk cloning refers to creating a one-to-one copy of a HDD or SSD disk. Thus, cloning Windows to another drive means copying the operating system, programs, and other essential data from Windows to another drive. The information on the target drive will be identical to that on the original Windows.

This article will explain how to clone Windows to another hard drive. But before we get into the methods, let's look at why you would want to clone Windows to another hard drive in the first place.

Why clone Windows to another drive?

There are times when it's necessary to clone your computer to another drive. For instance, cloning Windows to an SSD can boost your computer's read and write performance. There are several reasons why you might want to clone Windows to another drive, and here are some of the main ones:

• Create a backup: Cloning Windows to a hard drive gives you an exact copy of your computer. You can restore data if your system crashes or you lose any data.
• Upgrade to a larger hard drive: If your current hard drive is running out of storage, you can clone Windows to a larger hard drive to free up space. Or, you can completely wipe the hard drive to get more available space on the original hard drive.
• Migrate the operating system: Cloning Windows to another hard drive avoids the hassle of manually setting up the OS since it transfers everything automatically.

Regardless of the reason you want to clone Windows to another drive, the most important thing is to find a reliable cloning method. The traditional copy and paste method is tedious and laborious, while Disk Management and Diskpart only work for disk partitioning and formatting. But don't worry, we have a better tool recommended for you - AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, which allows you to easily clone Windows to another drive with just one click.

Next, we'll look at how to clone Windows to another drive using the following specialty tools.

How to Clone Windows to Another Drive

AOMEI Partition Assistant is an all-in-one PC disk management software. It supports cloning partitions, such as copying NTFS partition and FAT partition. In addition, it offers a one-click system migration feature. With its "Clone System Disk" feature, it helps you move Windows to another drive.

You also don't have to worry about complicated procedures, as the tool is user-friendly and easy to use, allowing you to clone Windows even if you're not familiar with the cloning process. You can clone Windows to another drive by following these steps. Then, you can set the drive as a bootable drive.

Guide 1: Clone Windows to Another Drive

Before starting the cloning process, download and install Partition Master, then follow these steps to complete the cloning:

< strong > Step 1. < /strong> Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, go to "Disk Clone" tab, choose "Clone System Disk" and then click "Next".

Select the system disk to clone

Step 2: Select the new drive you want to clone your OS to, then click “Next.”

Select the target disk to clone to.

Click “Yes” to confirm that you want to proceed with cloning the operating system disk.

Step 3. Review the disk layout, and then click Start to begin the operating system cloning process.

Step 4: When it's done, you'll see a confirmation message asking if you want to boot from the clone disk.

• Restart Now – Restart your computer immediately and set it up to boot the operating system from the new disk.
• Finish Later – Make the change at a later time.

Guide 2: Boot from the cloned drive

After successfully cloning Windows to another drive, you need to change the boot drive. This will allow your computer to boot from the cloned drive. Follow these steps to boot your computer from another drive:

Step 1: Turn on the computer and press F2/F8/Del to enter the BIOS environment.

Step 2. In the Boot Menu on the right, you will change the boot order and set the cloned drive as bootable.

Step 3: Once you've set this, you can exit the BIOS.

The two guides above detail how to clone Windows to another hard drive and set your computer to boot from it without reinstalling the OS. tools Partition Master is a great tool for the job, and using it to clone your system also offers the following benefits:

• SSD 4K Alignment: Maintain cloned SSD performance.
• Clone to Bigger Hard Disk: Expand computer disk space.
• Migrate OS to SSD: Avoid the hassle of reinstallation.
• Clone HDD to SSD: Improve computer read and write performance.

Download the tool Partition Master to solve more hard drive partition issues.

Conclusions

This article will discuss the benefits of cloning Windows to another drive and the best ways to do it. With the tool Partition Master, you can clone efficiently. You can also utilize its "Clone Partition" feature to copy a partition to another hard drive. Here are some other FAQs people often ask; keep reading if you're interested.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cloning Windows to Another Drive

These also relate to cloning, and have brief answers. I hope that these questions and answers are of use to you.

1. Can I clone Windows to an external SSD?

Yes, you can clone Windows to an external SSD. Actually, with the help of professional tools, you can clone Windows to external SSD, SD card, USB, or external hard drive.

2. Is it safe to clone Windows from HDD to SSD?

Yes, it is safe to clone Windows from HDD to SSD using professional tools. Cloning Windows from HDD to SSD avoids the hassle of re-installing the system and provides better protection and management of your data.

3. Can I clone C drive to D drive?

You can clone the C drive to D, including files, folders, and programs. You can use the "Clone Partition" feature of the tool "Partition Master" to clone the C drive partition.