How to Clone a Hard Drive Without Windows [In Simple Steps]

Updated by Linda on Jan 11, 2022, Topics: Disk/Partition Clone | How-to Guides

User scenario: How can I clone an HDD without an operating system?

"I recently bought a new motherboard but didn't realize it would prevent my Windows from booting. I have a new HDD and a fresh copy of Windows to install on it, but I need to clone my original HDD to the new drive without affecting the new copy of Windows. Is that possible? If so, how can I clone a hard drive without booting into Windows? I've never created a disk image before. Please help!"

A computer won't boot issue can be very annoying to users. There are many reasons why Windows fails to start, such as BCD errors, corrupted MBR, damaged hardware, corrupted system files, virus attacks, and so on.

There are various ways to fix Windows boot issues, including reinstallation, which would directly lead to data loss. Thus, to ensure the safety of your data, you need to recover it before solving the problem. And that's what this article is about - how to < strong >clone a hard drive without Windows OS</ strong >.

How to Clone a Hard Drive Without an Operating System

You can use a USB boot cloning software to help you access an unbootable computer and clone its hard drive. "Disk Copy" is a reputable disk cloning tool with comprehensive and advanced disk copying features.

• Create a WinPE bootable media to clone and rescue data in a Windows PE environment when the OS fails to start
• Clone HDD to SSD for faster computer performance
• Support sector-level cloning when bad sectors are detected on the hard drive
• Clone a failing hard drive to a new HDD/SSD

Download the free utility Disk Copy and create a bootable USB to clone your hard drive without an operating system. Here's how.

Steps to clone a hard drive without Windows OS

To clone a hard drive without booting into Windows, you'll need to do two things: create a Bootable Disk Copy tool on a healthy computer, and then connect that bootable USB to the unbootable computer to copy the files.

Please clone the hard drive according to the step-by-step guide in the WinPE environment.

Step 1. Download, install, and run the Disk Copy utility on a healthy Windows computer. Connect an external storage device, like a USB flash drive or an external hard drive, to the computer. Click "Create Bootable Disk."

Step 2. Select USB and choose your device, then click "Create."

When that's done, you'll have a bootable disk.

Step 3. Connect the bootable USB drive and your new SSD/HDD to the computer you want to clone the disk to, and set your PC to boot from the bootable drive by changing the boot order in BIOS.

4. In the “Disk Clone” tool, click on “Disk Mode,” and select the source disk that you want to copy or clone. Click “Next” to proceed.

5. Select the target disk to which you wish to clone/copy the old disk, then click “Next” to proceed. If prompted, confirm by clicking “OK” if you want to wipe out data on the target disk.

Step 6. Check and edit the disk layout, selecting either "Auto-adjust to disk," "Match source," or "Edit disk layout." Selecting "Auto-adjust to disk" is recommended.

• Selecting “Copy Source” will copy/cloning the source disk's partition layout to the target disk. • Editing the disk layout allows you to manually adjust the size or position of partitions on the target disk. • If the target disk is an SSD, remember to check the “Target is SSD” option.

Click “Proceed” to begin the disk cloning or disk copying process.

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Conclusions

"Disk Copy" tool provides a straightforward way to clone your hard drive when issues arise with the Windows operating system. With a bootable USB drive, you can clone the disk in a WinPE environment, allowing for easy data recovery. No specialized knowledge is required, making this tool accessible and effective for both beginners and experts alike.

If you encounter any issues while using the Disk Copy tool, please feel free to contact our Technical Customer Support. They will be glad to assist you. You can reach them by sending an email to techsupport@tools.com.

More information: How to fix problems that prevent Windows 10 from starting

Try the following solutions to fix the problem of Windows 10 not starting, but remember to back up your files first.

• Run Windows Automatic Repair
• Perform a System Restore
• Fix a corrupted MBR (Master Boot Record)
• Resolve BCD (Boot Configuration Data) errors
• Use SFC or DISM utilities to repair corrupted system files
• Repair bootrec
• Change SATA mode
• Add a hard drive
• Delete files causing boot issues
• Remove disks from the storage pool
• Modify disk signatures
• Repair system file signatures