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NB – I think the confusion between disk cloning and disk imaging comes from the fact that, whilst disk cloning could be used as a form of backup (albeit an inefficient one), disk imaging could equally be used to create a clone of a hard drive (albeit making the process longer than it otherwise needs to be). capturing the entire system in the backup set).
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Sometimes you might see backup software advertising the fact it can make full system image backups! Basically put, in the case where a PC might be made up of more than one hard disk, the backup software will then be able to automatically create images of all connected disks as a part of the same backup set (i.e.
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In other words, the entire disk is copied, compressed, stored within a single file (or a series of smaller files) and then stored somewhere on another disk as part of making a backup set. Disk Imaging:ĭisk Imaging technology is often incorporated into many backup software titles and is used to make an image based backup of a PCs hard disk into a single file (which is then stored upon the storage medium used by the backup software).
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During this cloning process the operating system, and installed software plus all user data is moved directly from the source disk to the target disk and not stored on any other media during the process. In the process of researching any available disk cloning software, you might have also noticed the terms disk imaging or system imaging mentioned as well? These terms are sometimes (incorrectly) used interchangeably when in fact they do both perform slightly different functions, these functions are explained in more detail below: Disk Cloning:ĭisk Cloning is the process of making an exact (1:1) copy of a physical hard disk and moving it over to a secondary physical hard disk (often a newer, larger or faster drive). This is not too much of a problem, however, as you will see further down in this guide I have collated some reviews of my favourite free disk cloning software titles! This means when you are ready to clone your existing hard disk, you can do so at very little or zero cost should you need to. This means if you do wish to clone a hard drive containing a Windows system 10 then third party disk cloning software must be used!
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No, Windows 10 does not currently contain any built-in disk cloning software as of time of writing in April 202 2. Does Windows 10 Have Built-in Disk Cloning Software? With disk cloning software, as we have already discovered, the entire system as it currently stands (including the operating system, all user data and any installed software) can all be copied over to the new PC with very little fuss. This process is often time consuming and potentially costly if the installation media for the software is unavailable, often resulting in a re-purchasing of the application in question. One of the biggest problems with acquiring a brand new PC is that all user data must be migrated over from an older, existing PC and any Windows applications must also be re-installed. Yes, this ability to also copy applications already installed upon the system is one of the main reasons disk cloning software is so useful, but lets consider a common example. Does Cloning a Hard Drive also Copy Programs?
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Overall, there are many varied scenarios which might require the use of disk cloning software, these include the upgrading of hard disks, the migrating of an existing PC system to a new (faster) SSD drive, the re-provisioning of a PC with a clean install of Windows within a business environment and the returning of a PC to its default state ready for resale. This means that the existing system will continue to work exactly as it did before on the old hard disk (but with more disk space or a faster SSD drive now in-use). Such disk cloning software is especially useful when adding new hard disks to an existing PC, for example, when adding a larger or faster hard disk or SSD drive to an existing PC, the existing drive contents can be copied over to the new drive exactly as they are.
Making an exact copy of the disk means that the operating system, any installed applications plus all existing user data are also copied to the new hard drive in the process. Disk Cloning software is specialist PC software used to create an exact (1:1) copy of a computer’s hard drive and then move it across to a secondary (often bigger or faster) hard drive.