Learn how to clone partitions in this article. Use EaseUS Disk Copy to safely copy partitions to another disk in Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, or 7.
It can be an easy and safe task to clone partitions for data migration, partition re-sizing, moving OS to another drive, or backup & recovery. However, there are still many details to consider and fallacies to avoid for effectiveness maximization. Let's delve in!
Partition cloning and disk cloning are used to copy data, but they serve different purposes.
⏩Partition Clone
Partition clone copies a single partition (D:, E:) to another disk, including data, games, files, etc., to another drive. It can be used to clone data disks.
However, a partition clone is unsuitable for OS migration since it can copy the system partition (C:) but cannot clone all necessary OS partitions (EFI/System Reserved + Recovery). This can make your computer unbootable.
⏩Disk Clone
The disk clone copies the entire drive to another drive, including all partitions, boot files, and data.
Clone the disk if you are migrating Windows to a new SSD or HDD. If the source disk you clone contains the operating system, the cloned disk is bootable.
There are several types of partitions, each serving a specific function. Understanding them is important for overall disk management, OS migration, and troubleshooting.
| Partition Type | Found In | Purpose |
| Primary Partition | MBR & GPT | Holds OS and bootable programs |
| Extended Partition | MBR | Container for logical partitions (not needed in GPT) |
| Logical Partition | MBR | Non-bootable storage inside an extended partition |
| EFI System Partition (ESP) | GPT | Stores UEFI bootloader (required for UEFI systems) |
| System Reserved Partition (SRP) | MBR | Stores boot files for Legacy BIOS systems |
| Recovery Partition | MBR & GPT | Stores system recovery files |
| Microsoft Reserved Partition (MSR) | GPT | Reserved for Windows system management |
The process of coping partition on Windows can be easy, but make sure you meet the basic requirements before you start.
Stage 1. Check the disk and partition size.
Ensure the target partition or disk has enough space for the copied data. If the target partition is smaller, shrink the source partition or extend the target partition before you clone hard drives with different sizes.
Stage 2. Back up important data.
Cloning will overwrite the target partition. Ensure you back up any important files before using a free backup tool like EaseUS Todo Backup. You can use an external drive or cloud storage to store backups.
Stage 3. Set the correct partition style.
If the partition type (GPT vs MBR) of the source and target partition do not match, boot failures, data corruption, and compatibility issues may occur.
Check if your disk uses GPT or MBR: open "Disk Management", right-click the disk, click "Properties", go to the "Volumes" tab, and locate "Partition style".
If the partition types are inconsistent, convert MBR to GPT or GPT to MBR. (All Windows 11 PCs support GPT only.)
Stage 4. Start cloning partition to another disk.
Download EaseUS Disk Copy and follow the steps to how to clone partition.
1. Download, install and run EaseUS Disk Copy on your PC.
Click Partition Mode and select the source partitions that you want to copy or clone. Click Next to continue.
2. Select the target partition where you want to clone/copy the source partition to and click Next to continue.
Check and edit the partition layout: Autofit the disk, Copy as the source or Edit disk layout.
Autofit the disk is recommended.
3. Click OK if the program asks to erase data on the destination partition.
Click "Proceed" to start the partition cloning or partition copying process now.
Once you've copied a partition, follow these important post-cloning steps to ensure the partition works properly, avoid conflicts, and make necessary adjustments.
| Step | Why It's Important |
| Check if the partition copied successfully | Ensures no data loss or corruption. |
| Assign a drive letter (if missing) | Makes the partition accessible in Windows. |
| Make it bootable (if OS partition) | Required for the cloned system to start properly. |
| Extend the partition (if necessary) | Uses full disk space after cloning. |
| Delete old partition (if needed) | Frees up storage space on the old disk. |
| Fix partition conflicts | Prevents hidden partitions or file system errors. |
| Enable TRIM (for SSDs) | Ensures better SSD performance and lifespan. |
| Verify data integrity | Ensures all files were copied correctly. |
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