In the next step it will ask us to configure the keyboard map. It is recommended not to change the default option, so we will continue pressing enter.
We will already have the system configured. Therefore, we select the option to start Clonezilla in the next step that will appear.
We already started with the program as such. The wizard will ask us what task we want to perform. We will select the option «device – device» or disk to disk and press enter again.
Next, it will ask us for the execution mode we want. We will select the expert mode, since with it we will be able to adjust the cloning options to our liking.
It will ask us what type of cloning we want to perform depending on the source and destination device. We select the option «disk to local disk» to clone between 2 local drives connected to the same computer.
In this step we will have to select the source disk, that is, the one with the operating system installed and all the data that we want to keep. We will have to pay attention in this step and select the correct one, otherwise we will lose the data. To do this, we can look at the capacity, the brand, the serial number or any other aspect of those that appear.
Next, we will select the destination disk, that is, the drive where we are going to clone all the data from the source disk. We will also have to pay attention, if we have several disks, to choose the correct one and not screw up. We will observe that the disk that we have selected as source no longer appears, which is a sign that we have selected it correctly. We press enter and continue.
In the next window we will see a series of advanced parameters to configure. We can leave the default values, since they will be adequate for most cases. And we can even add the last one, “-u” to obtain more detailed information about the process. Press enter again to continue.
Now we will find an option to check the system. If we want, we can perform an interactive check of the disk structure, from the second option. If we prefer, we can skip this step with the first option. In our case we will select the second option to check the disk structure interactively and make sure that the process will not fail.
Next, it will ask us for the partition table that we want to use on the new disk. We will leave the default option, “Use source disk partition table”, and press enter to continue.
Finally we will be able to see a summary of the options that we have selected during the entire configuration process, as well as a warning that indicates that the data on the destination disk will be lost. We make sure that everything is correct, and we will press the «Y» key, followed by enter, to continue.
Again, we will see the same message. This time it will ask us if we want to clone the bootloader from the original drive to the new drive. We will select yes by pressing the letter «Y» again, followed, of course, by the intro.
At last the disk cloning process begins.
Once the process is finished we will see a window like this one with the clone summary.
We hit enter one last time and we’re done. Now we can restart our computer and, when booting, select in the Bios that we want to boot from the new hard drive. And even better yet, unplug the old one, format it, and use it for whatever we want. We shouldn’t have any problems logging in. And everything should be just as we left it.
Clone a hard, USB or SD drive to a larger one
It is very common that when trying to access the data on a USB or a memory card we find that they, or a part of them, are blocked. This happens, for example, if we have hidden partitions (for example, if we have an operating system for the Raspberry Pi), or if there are partitions formatted in a proprietary format (as happens, for example, with the partitions that consoles create automatically). . copy the data of the main partition, leaving the rest of the partitions uncopyed doesn’t do much good. Yes, we can save the most important data, but if we try to boot the device with the new USB or the new memory card, we will see that, since we do not have these partitions, we cannot do anything.
When we start the PC with our Clonezilla, the first thing we will see will be a boot screen like the following.
In it we will choose the first option to start this distro with the default options. After a few seconds, the next thing we will see will be a new section in which we will have to choose the language, and immediately afterwards the keyboard layout that we are going to use.
We are now ready to start Clonezilla.
Now, the first thing the program will ask us is to choose the operating mode depending on what we want to do with the unit. As what we want to do is a copy from device to device, we select the option «device-device«.
In the next step, this software will let us choose if we want to use the mode “beginner”, to make the process quick and easy, or the way “expert”, from which we can configure a series of parameters on the copy and cloning of the data. We will choose the “beginner” mode and continue with the process.
Next we will choose that we want to copy a local disk to a local disk. The first option.
In the next point, all the hard drives and other devices that we have connected to the PC will appear. The first thing we should do is select source drive. That is, the USB or the memory card that has all the data. The one we want to clone. We must not be wrong.
And secondly, the destination drive, or where we want to copy the data. We must make sure to choose this drive very well, since the process will erase all the data on the destination drive in order to clone the source drive to it.
After selecting the source and destination, the clone process It will ask us to choose if we want to check for errors during the cloning process so that, if any are detected, the program will take care of solving them. If we want the cloning to be as accurate as possible, we can indicate yes (although the whole process will take more time). If we are sure that the drive is correct, we can skip the check.
In the next step we will have to choose what we want to do when the process is finished. This is useful, for example, when the drives are large, since we can leave the computer working and tell it that, when the process is finished, we want it to turn off automatically.
The program is now ready for clone our USB or memory card. But before starting the process, it will allow us to see a summary of everything to make sure that everything is correct. We will have to accept the process twice before starting it.
When Clonezilla finishes its task, we will already have the cloned drive. Now we just have to turn off the computer, disconnect the drives and check that the new drive works correctly and that all your data is there.
extend partitions
The Clonezilla cloning process is literal. That is, if the destination drive is larger than the source drive, it will create the partitions as is, leaving the difference in unpartitioned space. In this case, what we will have to do before we can continue is to extend the main partition with the rest of the space that has not been partitioned.
For this we must use a partition manager for Windows that allows us to do this. For example, MiniTool Partition Wizard is a free program that will allow us, as long as the space is contiguous, to expand the partitions.
Thus we will have our unit ready and 100% of the space of the new usable unit.
Alternatives to Clonezilla
Clonezilla is one of the best applications for cloning data from one drive to another, as well as being completely free. However, it is not the only option available on the market, where we can find interesting alternatives like the ones we show you below.
little fish
If you don’t like Clonezilla’s dos-based graphical interface, the application to use is Rescuezilla, although this application is much more than Clonezilla with a graphical interface. With this application we can create complete images of partitions or hard drives as a backup to be able to restore them in case our equipment stops working.
Like Clonezilla, we can use Rescuezilla to start the computer and access its data, regardless of whether it does not start correctly. It is compatible with Windows, Linux and macOS file systems and it is also a completely free application that is regularly updated. The latest available version of Rescuezilla can be downloaded from .
The best
This is a program that is based on the popular Clonezilla that we have talked about in these same lines, but that provides us with a useful graphical interface that less experienced users will greatly appreciate. Even if the computer doesn’t start normally, we can use the application that offers us functions to clone entire units and partitions in a simple way.
Worst
The graphical interface that the application offers us by default is not the most up-to-date or modern, so it wouldn’t hurt for its developers to improve it. These have been based more on functionality than on its external appearance.
Redo Rescue
Redo Rescue is an interesting alternative to Clonezilla with which it also shares one of its main advantages, that of being completely free and open source. Not only does it allow us to clone drives, but we can also use it to make backup copies of any drive and partition, regardless of its file system.
Redo Rescue offers us a much simpler and more intuitive user interface than Clonezilla, making it ideal for novice users. This application works through a boot drive and we can download it through its web page that we can access by clicking on this .
Well
This is a very useful and interesting application that we can use, including all its functions, completely free of charge. It is an open source project that not only allows us to clone complete drives, but also offers us a complete feature that will allow us to make personalized backup copies.
Bad
The user interface that it offers us is too simple, which can become an inconvenience for those more advanced users who seek to have more control over this type of process.
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