How to Clone Windows Server 2012 (R2) Hard Drive | 2 Ways
Why clone Windows Server 2012 (R2) hard drive
Hard drive cloning, also known as disk cloning, is the process of copying every bit of data from one hard drive to another, allowing you to duplicate the contents of a hard drive, such as cloning a Windows Server 2012 (R2) hard drive to a new solid-state drive (SSD) or hard disk drive (HDD).
Compared to traditional copy and paste, disk cloning can handle complex system files and even hidden files, and unlike common image backup, the cloned data can be used directly without a recovery process, making it a standout solution in situations where a seamless and efficient transfer of data is required.
- Replace drive without reinstalling: To avoid reinstalling the OS, apps, user settings, etc. on a new hard drive, you can clone the hard drive directly.
- Get a larger capacity: When your computer's hard drive is running out of space, causing it to slow down, consider replacing it with a larger one without losing any data.
- Get a better performance: Compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDD), solid state drives (SSD) offer significantly faster performance and lower power consumption. This makes them an attractive option for those seeking improved system speed, and they can even be used to clone existing hard drives for a seamless upgrade.
- Create an exact backup of the disk: Upgrading your operating system can sometimes lead to issues such as missing or corrupted files. To avoid this, consider cloning your hard drive to an external hard drive, which can serve as a safeguard against potential problems.
How can you clone hard drive of Windows Server
To clone a hard drive of Windows Server 2012 (R2), 2008 (R2), 2003, or newer OS like Windows Server 2022, 2019, you may first think of using Microsoft-provided tools. However, Windows Server Backup does not come with cloning capabilities, so you'll need to look elsewhere for a solution.
To avoid the cumbersome and error-prone process of creating a system backup and restoring it to a new hard drive, it is recommended to use professional server cloning software to simplify the process and ensure accuracy.
- Professional disk clone software for Windows Server 2012 (r2)
- Cloning Windows Server 2012 (r2) hard drive step by step
- Migrate Windows Server hard drive via Windows Server Backup
Professional disk clone software for Windows Server 2012 (R2)
Here, I'd like to introduce the powerful disk cloning software – Qiling Disk Master Server. It supports both Windows Server and Windows Client operating systems, including Windows Server 2022/2019/2016(R2)/2012(r2)/2008(r2), Windows 11/10/8/7, etc. and can help you lone HDD to new SSD or larger HDD with secure boot.clone HDD to new SSD or larger HDD with secure boot.
In terms of functionality, it has the following advantages:
>>The feature allows for the cloning of a larger drive to a smaller one by copying only the used sectors, which is the intelligent clone option by default. This approach enables the cloning of larger drives to smaller ones, making it a useful feature for users who need to transfer data from a larger drive to a smaller one.
>>This feature enables users to resize a partition and allocate any unused space when cloning to a larger or equal-sized disk, making it easier to work with larger storage capacities.
>>It supports cloning drives of different partition styles, allowing direct cloning of GPT to MBR, among other partition style combinations.
>>The SSD alignment feature improves the reading & writing speed of the target SSD and prolongs its life span.
>>The software has a user-friendly interface that is easy to use, even for those who are new to it.
1. Download the free trial of the software from the official website.
Cloning Windows Server 2012 (R2) hard drive step by step
To start with, you need to do the following preparations:
Connect the target disk to a Windows Server computer, ensuring it is detected by the system.
To prevent data loss, back up important files to an external hard drive before cloning your computer's hard drive. This will ensure that all your valuable data is safely stored elsewhere, and you can restore it if needed.
To begin, install and launch Qiling Disk Master Server. Once launched, follow the steps to proceed.
How to clone Windows Server 2012 (R2) hard drive to another drive step by step:
Step 1. To clone the system, select the "Disk Clone" option under the "Clone" tab, then click on "System Clone" to clone the system only.
Step 2. Select the disk you want to clone as the source disk and then click "Next".
Step 3. Select the other disk as the destination disk, and then click Next.
Step 4. Confirm the settings of the source and destination disk, and then click "Proceed" if your destination disk is an SSD, checking the box "SSD Alignment".
👉Useful tips:
✤If you clone a small disk to a larger disk, you can click the button of "Edit Partitions" and have three options to resize partitions.
- Copy without resizing partitions: It will not resize the partition size.
- Add unused space to all partitions: To reallocate unused space to each partition of the target disk, you can use the `resize2fs` command in Linux or the built-in disk management tools in Windows. This process involves identifying the unused space on the target disk, determining which partitions can be resized, and then allocating the unused space to those partitions.
- Manually adjust partition size: To extend unallocated space on the destination disk, you need to manually adjust the size of the partition you want to extend unallocated space to. This involves selecting the partition, clicking on the "Extend" button, and then manually entering the new size for the partition. This process allows you to allocate more space to the chosen partition, effectively increasing its capacity.
✤MBR and GPT are two different partition styles for data storage, and the partition style of your boot drive should be compatible with your boot mode (GPT/UEFI and MBR/Legacy BIOS). Qiling Disk Master allows for cloning between MBR and GPT disks, but it's still important to consider whether to keep or convert the partition style of a disk.
If your source hard drive is a GPT disk booting in UEFI mode, and the target drive is MBR, it's best to convert the target disk to GPT first, or change the boot mode after cloning.
✤When the target disk is larger or equal in size, you can also perform a sector-by-sector clone to copy all sectors, including unused and logically bad sectors.
✤Besides Windows Server, it also works with Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista. This tool can be used to clone Windows 10 to an NVMe SSD, among other tasks.
✤To clone Windows Server to another machine, create a disk image using the Disk Backup feature and restore it on the new machine with the Universal Restore option checked, ensuring the system can boot on different hardware.
Migrate Windows Server hard drive via Windows Server Backup
In addition to cloning, Windows Server 2012 (R2) also allows for backup and restore to migrate a hard drive to another drive. A more complicated but viable method is to use Windows Server Backup, a built-in tool that can backup a disk and then restore it to another disk, effectively migrating the contents of the original drive to a new one.
✎Note: If you didn't install Windows Server Backup, install it first. Then, create a system image backup of the old hard drive. Alternatively, you can use the Backup and Restore feature of Qiling Backuper to achieve this.
How to transfer Windows Server 2012 (R2) to another drive with WSB:
Step 1. To open Windows Server Backup, press Win + R, type "wbadmin.msc", or click Start, select Administrative Tools, and then click on Windows Server Backup.
Step 2. On the Right Panel, click Recover option.
Step 3. On the Getting Started screen, select the source path where the backup is stored.
Step 4. Select the recovery type and items that you backed up before. You can choose a full system image, a file system image, or a file level backup.
Step 5. Select the Recovery destination. Here, choose your target hard drive.
Step 6. Confirm the configuration options selected in the Recovery Wizard, then click the "Recover" button to initiate the restore process.
Updated: Windows Server 2012 R2 end of life
Windows Server 2012 (R2) mainstream support ended on October 9, 2018, and will reach its extended end of support on October 10, 2023, after which Microsoft will no longer provide technical support or bug fixes.
In addition to cloning disks to preserve data, it's recommended that administrators upgrade Windows Server 2012 (R2) to 2019 or 2022 to keep servers running and receive bug fixes & security updates.
Conclusion
You can clone a Windows Server 2012, 2008, or 2003 hard drive using two methods, with Qiling Disk Master Server being the easier option. After cloning, you won't encounter any boot issues. Additionally, features like "SSD Alignment" and "Edit Partition" allow you to optimize your SSD's performance and make the most of your disk.
Besides disk cloning, this software also supports system and partition cloning. Additionally, it offers backup and restore features, making it a comprehensive tool for data protection. For businesses with multiple PCs and servers, the Technician Plus version is available for unlimited protection.
Related Articles
- Professional Clone Software for Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019
Pick the most reliable and professional Windows Server clone software to clone hard drive to new drive or SSD in Server 2003, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2019 with simple clicks. - Clone Hard Drive in Windows Server 2003/2008/2012 without Reinstalling
We will introduce you to one server cloning software that is able to clone hard drive in Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022, etc. Scroll down to get it now if you are looking for such software! - How to Clone C Drive in Windows Server 2019 Effortlessly?
How to clone C drive in Server 2019? The best C drive clone software – Qiling Disk Master can help you complete this task without reinstalling anything. - The Easiest Way to Clone Windows Server 2012 to New Hard Drive
How to clone Windows Server 2012 to new hard drive? This article provides you with powerful software to help you do this. Read this guide to get the easiest method.