Best 'Free' Cloning Software

[cornemuse]

I have downloaded several clone softwares, I used Acronus, once, it worked once, then no more. (<-now everything copys but NO booting)

Which have folks here used & recommend??

(On another forum, folks kept telling me I wanted to 'back up' not clone, I said several times 'no, I want an identical [data] HDD'. They said, again, you want to backup, anyway, they're pissed at me, (finally said it again, but sarcastically) I want an identical hdd for reasons known 'only to me'.) (-> 500 gig WD blue hdd, identical, bootable, drives)

Suggestions???

-corne

[jagabo]

Most of the disk drive manufactures have free cloning software you can download from their web site.

[videobruger]

I use CloneZilla

PS Why would I recommend it? It made me a clone of a system disc with surface defects where Eausus, Paragon ... failed.

[fritzi93]

Since you are talking about a WD drive, go to the Western Digital website and get their free version of Acronis.
It can do everything the pay version can except for incremental backup.
You can easily clone from one drive to another.

Dunno what happened to your install of Acronis. Did you ever try a re-install?

Good luck.

[TimA-C]

Macrium Reflect

[joeandmarg0]

Macrium Reflect Free edition,simple to use,completely effective.

[mazinz]

this question was also covered a few months back:

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/368707-free-application-to-clone-1-drive-to-another

[-Habanero-]

EaseUS Partition Master Free.

[cornemuse]

Removed Acronis & reinstalled, not working! Removed, downloaded again, & reinstalled, now it works!

I tried (downloaded) Clonezilla, couldnt find instructions, one exe file, doubleclicked & got 'cant run on C drive' <- words to that effect.
Paragon need a lawyer to navigate their instructions <- the fine print, gave up looking.

Well, the Acronis does what I want, now.

-c-

[gll99]

I've used some of the other tools mentioned and they are good but recently I used AOMEI Backupper Standard (free) to clone a hdd. It does a lot more than its name implies. It can easily clone a whole disc or just the boot partition if you want a multi partition disc. It even lets you resize the output partition you want to clone. It will do exactly what you wrote... make an identical hdd if that is what you want and more if needed.

http://www.backup-utility.com/free-backup-software.html

[vhelp]

i'm using macrium, the free version. it has a clone function, but i never used it. i use it under win7 and win8 to image and restore image. works well, but i wish it were lesser steps to do things like restoring an image. i'm looking to see if it can do scripting from the command line so that i can create a simple two button gui to image or restore image, but i haven't gotten around to searching google for that info yet something like:

macrium create_image c to h
macrium restore_image h to c

[sambat]

Ditto on AOMEI Backupper Standard.
I used it to clone SSD to larger SSD and vice versa, then SSD to HDD.
They all booted OK.