How do I Use Software to Copy an Entire Hard Drive?
When you need a quick and noncomplex way to back up your computer, copying the entire hard drive with software is one option. Unlike file-based backup which forces you to pick and choose what gets backed up, copying the whole hard drive (often called ghosting, imaging or mirroring) creates a carbon copy of your entire drive for thorough data restoration.
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Things You'll Need
- Hard drive to be copied
- Hard drive to be copied to
- Computer
- Hard drive imaging software
Instructions
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Copy that data
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1
Purchase or download a hard-drive imaging program that will allow you to make a copy of your existing hard drive to a new one.
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2
Power off your computer and attach the new hard disk that will accept the copied drive image.
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3
Power on your computer and follow the instructions for copying your drive. Depending on the software you use, you may boot from a USB stick or CD into a special program that will copy the drive without the help of your operating system, or you will run the copying program from within Windows or OSx.
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4
Power down your computer and remove the drive holding the disk copy.
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5
Store your backed-up data in a safe location.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Hard-drive copying programs can be found from many locations. Commercial programs like Norton Utilities provide hard-disk copying features, however, there are plenty of free programs that will also get the job done such as Drive Image XML and Runtime's Shadow Copy.
Always make sure to power off your computer when adding or removing hard drives.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hard Drive image by Tabitha Little from Fotolia.com
