Free Disk cloning software?

[Jackal46]

Looking for a free or cheap cloning software.

It must be able to
> Clone existing hard disk to an image.
>Write image to new drive from image.

The idea here is to create an image from old SSD that to small and move it to a bigger SSD but still keep a backup of it on thumbdrive. So if **** hits the fan I can recover the entire install and not lose all the software and settings and all that crap.

I use to use Norton Ghost but it doesn't work with Win11 for whatever reason. It is old software but it worked well.

 

[Jackal46]

I was told NIUBI Partition Editor is not bad

 

[IamNoone]

Looking for a free or cheap cloning software.

It must be able to
> Clone existing hard disk to an image.
>Write image to new drive from image.

The idea here is to create an image from old SSD that to small and move it to a bigger SSD but still keep a backup of it on thumbdrive. So if **** hits the fan I can recover the entire install and not lose all the software and settings and all that crap.

I use to use Norton Ghost but it doesn't work with Win11 for whatever reason. It is old software but it worked well.

I tried a few free ones and a couple of paid ones and ended up still nuking my drive and reinstalling. All I wanted to do was move the boot to the SSD so I can use the full 4TB of my secondary drive.

I did have a backup but due to the nature of things with the boot it did not work.

Doing it all fresh did have the advantage of removing stuff I no longer used or needed.

 

[OnlyOneKenobi]

Macrium reflect.

 

[AfricanTech]

Macrium Reflect used to have a free version that would do that - not sure if it's still available.

Edit: ha ha snap!

 

[Jackal46]

I will get back to you on this. I like the idea of having backups if **** hit the fan but doing a new install is always the best option.

What VM software do you use? I use virtual box but I was wondering if there isn't something a bit more reliable? I am slowly learning new tricks and don't always want to cook my OS. figured VM is a logical next step.

 

[LCBXX]

Macrium Reflect used to have a free version that would do that - not sure if it's still available.

Edit: ha ha snap!

I don't think the latest version allows for free cloning anymore. I had to seek out a previous version for it to work for free.

 

[My_King]

I use Hiren's boot disc

 

[airborne]

Macrium reflect.

Macrium Reflect used to have a free version that would do that - not sure if it's still available.

Edit: ha ha snap!

This is the way but you may have to troll the high seas for a boot disc to mount with the Rufus boot tool.

 

[agentrfr]

Looking for a free or cheap cloning software.

It must be able to
> Clone existing hard disk to an image.
>Write image to new drive from image.

The idea here is to create an image from old SSD that to small and move it to a bigger SSD but still keep a backup of it on thumbdrive. So if **** hits the fan I can recover the entire install and not lose all the software and settings and all that crap.

I use to use Norton Ghost but it doesn't work with Win11 for whatever reason. It is old software but it worked well.

use any of the tools on here - works a treat, just boot from a USB and you can image local-local

Download | Hiren's BootCD PE

If you want hardmode you can also use clonezilla (my preferred method, but apparently I'm an autist so there's that)

Clonezilla - Downloads

 

[N@t3]

Aomei Partition Assistant.

 

[RunningFromFat]

I use Hiren's boot disc

I prefer strelec, have you tried strelec before?

 

[My_King]

I prefer strelec, have you tried strelec before?

Nope, but will have a look at it.

Thank you.

 

[backstreetboy]

Clonezilla

 

[Mortymoose]

https://www.diskgenius.com/

 

[Jackal46]

use any of the tools on here - works a treat, just boot from a USB and you can image local-local

Download | Hiren's BootCD PE

If you want hardmode you can also use clonezilla (my preferred method, but apparently I'm an autist so there's that)

Clonezilla - Downloads

I legit forgot about clonezilla

 

[Dylan_G]

Macrium
AOMEI

 

[hbotha]

I agree also with Hirens WinPE

Currently there are only 3 really good "free" ones as can been seen in this easy demo video that was released 2 days ago.

3 Best Free Cloning Software

DiskGenius - Use Tools, System Migrations for full OS and data copied with hotboot option enabled
Diskcopy
Hasleo Disk Clone

All 3 very neatly shown in this short video. A must watch and good quality video from Britec09 channel.

Every person prefer their own software but free programs are limited these days.

Hope it helps.

 

[Rickster]

AOMEI Backupper Standard V5, its free, some modules need a key/license.




It can do disk to disk cloning too, does the resizing etc too.

 

[Anonymous™]

Looking for a free or cheap cloning software.

It must be able to
> Clone existing hard disk to an image.
>Write image to new drive from image.

The idea here is to create an image from old SSD that to small and move it to a bigger SSD but still keep a backup of it on thumbdrive. So if **** hits the fan I can recover the entire install and not lose all the software and settings and all that crap.

I use to use Norton Ghost but it doesn't work with Win11 for whatever reason. It is old software but it worked well.

dd on Linux

Edit: I see for Windows Rufus can achieve same. I've only ever used that to make bootable Windows USBs.