Cloning hard drive is a process in which all files and programs  from  a computer hard drive are copied to another . This an alternative to running a new instance of operating system installation and installing software on the new disk one by one . Suppose you wish to clone hard disk A that has already contained an operating system and programs to an empty  drive B with no  installed OS or program.  You can do this by cloning hard drive.

This method is often used by computer  owners who have just bought a new computer  or those having a network of more than one computers. By performing hard drive cloning you don’t need to install operating system or install each program one by one on a new hard drive thus you can save time  and energy.
You can use cloning software available on the market such as DriveImage XML (DIX), Norton Ghost etc to do the job of transferring all files and program from one computer to another. But for Windows users who have been  accustomed to and familiar with Windows Explorer, this whole process can actually  be performed using Windows Explorer. This however should be done with extra care since the whole processes are done in exact sequence, though  not take as much time as installing new operating system.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to clone a hard drive using Windows Explorer  Menu :

  1. Format and partition the new hard drive. First of all, you need to create  partition and format the hard drive which is a mandatory before using a new hard drive.
  2. Set  hard drive status. Hard drives  that will be copied  (source hard drive ) and a new target hard drive  must both be readable by the computer. You need to adjust the jumper settings located on the back of both hard drives or you can do that by connecting both hard drives with the computer mainboard. Hard drive Source will then act as  master hard drive while the new hard drive will act as slave hard drive (target hard drive)
  3. Hard Drive Cloning process.

After you complete the two steps above you can no proceed to the main job of cloning the hard drive.

  1. Start Windows Explorer.
    Go to Windows explorer and Show all hidden files by clicking the Tools menu and select Folder Options, and then click on the View button. Check  the Show hidden files  and folders option, then click the Apply button, then click the OK button.
  2. Select all the files and the entire folders on your source  hard drive except the Windows folder. Then click the Copy option on the Edit Menubar.
    Click the Paste option on the menubar Edit on the  second target hard drive then  create new folders in the root directory and rename it with “Windows”
  3. Click the Windows folder on the source hard disk then select all files and all folders except Win386.swp file.
    Then click the Copy option on the Edit menubar.
  4. Click the Paste option on the menubar on Edit to the Windows folder on the   target hard drive

Alternatively you can use the following a  quite easy method using Windows built-in command.

  1. Install Windows and all the  programs you wish to clone  on  the hard drive that will be used as source drive  and put it on the Primary IDE Master.
    Boot your computer  from the mater hard drive carriers, make sure you have configured the new  hard drive as IDE Slave
  2. Go to  Windows command prompt  by clicking Start> Run > CMD (In Windows XP)
  3. Perform quick formatting of the new hard disk by typing following command format d: / q / u
    When finished, exit the windows directory then press enter
    Type  the following command: xcopy / h / e / r / y / s / c / kc: d: press
  4. Enter to start the hard drive cloning process.

This way, we will  get a clone of  hard drive which contains  exactly the same content as  the original  hard drive.

Visitors who come to this post are searching for:

  • clone dix
  • step by step drive cloning with driveimage XML
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Filed under: Computer & Networking • Windows Tips and Trick

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