Top 2 Ways to Copy Data from One Hard Drive/SSD to Another
Quick Navigation:
- Can you transfer data from one hard drive to another?
- Best hard drive copy software for Windows 11/10/8/7
- How to copy data from one hard drive to another easily
- Summary
Can you transfer data from one hard drive to another?
No, you can't just copy-paste everything from your 1TB HDD to the new 6TB HDD, especially if it contains programs. This is because copying programs from an old drive to a new one can cause compatibility issues, conflicts, or even damage the programs. It's recommended to install the programs from scratch on the new drive, using the original installation media or download links. This will ensure that the programs are properly installed and configured on the new drive, without any potential issues. You can, however, copy your personal files, such as documents, pictures, and videos, from the old drive to the new one without any issues.
When upgrading to a larger hard drive or replacing a hard drive with an SSD, you may need to copy data between two drives. This process also comes in handy when backing up files from one hard drive to another.
Transferring a small number of files using the copy and paste method is straightforward, but what if you need to transfer a large group of files? In such cases, copying and pasting can be impractical and may even cause issues if the drive being copied contains crucial programs or the operating system. This is because copying and pasting can inadvertently leave behind hidden files that are essential for your computer's boot process, potentially leading to boot failures.
To copy a large number of files efficiently, you can use the command line or a third-party software like Robocopy or RichCopy. These tools allow you to copy files in the background, resume interrupted copies, and even copy files to multiple destinations at once. When copying programs, it's generally safe to copy the entire program directory, including any subdirectories and files.
Best hard drive copy software for Windows 11/10/8/7
Specialized hard drive copy software can save you from the tedious work of copying and pasting, and ensure a bootable OS after transferring. Qiling Disk Master Professional, the best hard drive transfer software, can help with this process, allowing you to take advantage of its features to accomplish data transfer between two internal or external hard drives.
1. File Sync
- It allows you to transfer multiple files between two drives at the same time.
- You can also transfer files from PC to PC, sync two NAS devices, sync local folders to a cloud drive, and more.
2. Disk Clone
- The process copies all data, including programs and the operating system, from the source drive to the destination drive, allowing the new drive to be used without reinstalling programs.
- You can clone all types of disks, including internal/external hard drives, HDD/SSD, and SATA/PCIe disks.
Windows PC operating systems like Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP are supported. Download and install Qiling Disk Master, then follow the step-by-step guide to transfer data from one hard drive to another.
How to copy data from one hard drive to another easily
There are two ways to transfer files and programs to a new drive: Way 1 for moving files like documents, pictures, and music, and ay 2 for transferring the operating system and programs.Way 2 for transferring the operating system and programs.
Preparations:
◑ Connect the target hard drive to your computer, ensuring it is detected, if you're transferring data to an external drive.
◑ Before attempting Way 2, make sure to back up any files on the target drive, as the cloning process will overwrite any data in the destination.
Way 1: copy files from one hard drive to another
1. Launch Qiling Disk Master, then click "File Sync" and select "Basic Sync".
2. Rename the task to something like "Sync Source Folders" or "Source to Destination Sync" to make it easily identifiable. Then, select the specific folder(s) on the source drive that you want to synchronize with the destination drive. This will help you keep track of which folders are being synced and avoid any confusion with other sync tasks.
3. Choose a different drive to save the synced folders.
4. Click on "Proceed" button to begin transferring files from one hard drive to another. After the operation is finished, safely disconnect your drive.
>> Options: You can add a comment to your sync task to describe the specific sync contents, and also enable email notification to receive updates on the task's progress.
>> Schedule Sync: The sync task can be set to run periodically, with five modes available: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event triggers, and USB plug in.
Way 2: copy hard drive to another hard drive with everything
1. Run Qiling Disk Master, click "Clone" on the left pane, and select "Disk Clone".
2. Select the original hard drive on your PC as the source disk and click "Next" to proceed.
3. Connect an external storage drive to your PC and select it as the destination drive. Click "Next" to proceed.
4. Confirm the operation and click "Proceed" to begin copying a disk to another disk.
>> Edit Partitions: You can choose to resize partitions on the destination disk or not, depending on your specific needs and requirements.
>> SSD Alignment: If the destination disk is an SSD, select this option to improve the reading and writing speed of the SSD.
>> The sector-by-sector cloning method clones every sector on the source disk, including unused ones, which can be time-consuming. It also requires the destination disk to be at least as large as the source disk.
5. After cloning, you need to change the boot order in the BIOS to boot from the cloned drive, or replace the source drive with the cloned one to boot from it.
Summary
You can transfer data from one internal/external hard drive to another using Qiling Disk Master, which also allows you to backup multiple drives in Windows 10/8/7. This tool enables you to transfer data between two drives, making it a convenient solution for data migration needs. Give it a try!
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