Easy Hard Drive to Hard Drive Transfer for Windows PC

Transferring data from one disk to another is one of our daily working parts. For example, if you want to update your old hard drive to a newer, larger one, you must transfer the data from the old one to the new one. Alternatively, if you purchase a new laptop, you may move all of your papers and other data from your previous machine. Many consumers have this demand but need to know the specific and correct technique.

This article will demonstrate various methods for safely transferring data from one hard disk to another. You may learn the entire procedure and the security of the automated technique.

Importance of hard drive to hard drive transfer

In the dynamic digital landscape of today, the significance of data transfer cannot be overstated. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a business professional, or simply an individual with valuable digital assets, the need for efficient and secure data transfer mechanisms is paramount.

Disk transfer gives us big conveniences in many ways:

1. Data migration simplified
One of the most prevalent reasons for cloning a hard drive is the need for data migration. Whether you're upgrading to a new computer or replacing an aging hard drive, the thought of manually transferring vast amounts of data can be daunting. Cloning streamlines this process by copying your entire operating system, applications, files, and settings to the new drive. This results in an identical setup, saving you hours of reinstalling and reconfiguring software.

2. Preserving system and settings
Imagine you've spent considerable time customizing your operating system, installing specific software, and configuring settings to cater to your preferences and workflow. Cloning your hard drive ensures that all these intricate details are replicated precisely onto the new drive. This is particularly useful for users who rely on specific software versions or intricate configurations, as it eliminates the need to recreate these setups manually.

3. Enhancing data redundancy and backup
Data loss is a constant concern in the digital age. Cloning a hard drive serves as an effective strategy for data redundancy and backup. By creating a clone of your primary hard drive, you're essentially generating a backup that mirrors your existing data. This safeguards your information against hardware failures, accidental deletions, or other unforeseen mishaps. In case of a system crash, you can seamlessly transition to the cloned drive, minimizing downtime and ensuring continuity.

How to transfer from one hard drive to another

In this part, we’ll show two ways to transfer hard drive to another. We’ll use built-in tool: “Windows Easy Transfer” and third-party HDD clone software to transfer files and clone all things.

Method 1. Using Windows Easy Transfer

Windows Easy Transfer is a dependable file transfer software created by Microsoft that allows you to migrate files and settings from an earlier version of Windows OS to a newer one on Windows Vista/XP/7/8/8.1. It is more convenient than manual copying since files may be transferred via an easy transfer cable, portable media, or a network.

1. On the local computer

Step 1. Input Windows Easy Transfer on the Start screen > Click Windows Easy Transfer

Step 2. Welcome to Windows Easy Transfer > Next > Select An external hard disk or USB flash drive > plug in your external devices

Step 3. Choose This is my old PC > Customize > Advanced > Save > Next > Save files to the external hard drive

2. Input the files and settings on the new computer

Step 1. Run Windows Easy Transfer on the new PC.

Step 2. Welcome to Windows Easy Transfer > Next > Select An external hard disk or USB flash drive > Choose This is my new pc

plug in your external devices > Select Yes > Open the Easy Transfer file location > enter the password > Next

Step 3. Customize > Advanced > Save > Click Transfer > Close Windows Easy Transfer > Restart your computer

Method 2. Alternative to Windows Easy Transfer for Windows 10/11

Third-party software will be more practical for users to suit the demands of moving huge files, directories, applications, or even operating systems. The most suggested Windows simple transfer is AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard, which may clone a disk or a single partition. All data files and installed applications will be transferred to the destination drive, and the migrated programs will not need to be reinstalled; they will continue to function normally on the new disk.

Step 1.Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, click the "Clone" main tab and select "Clone Disk". (You can also right-click the Disk you want to clone and select the "Clone Disk" tool to run disk clone.)

Step 2. Choose the hard disk that you need to clone as the source disk and click "Next".

Step 3. Select the destination disk to put the data of the source disk on, and then click "Next".

Step 4. Then, you will enter the Confirm interface where you can check the source and destination disk. After all is set, you can click the "Confirm" button to continue.

In lower left corner of the window, you can click the "Settings" button to adjust the partition size on the destination disk. There are three options for you:

• Clone without resizing partitions: all partitions will be cloned to the target disk as the original partition size. It is available when the target disk is larger than the source disk. If it is smaller, this option will be grayed out.
• Fit partitions to entire disk: all partitions will be cloned to the target disk and take up its full capacity according to the original partition size proportion.
• Edit partitions on this disk: you can change every partition size on the target disk as you need.

After finishing the adjustment, please click "Save".

Notes:

• You can tick "4k alignment" to improve the reading and writing speed of SSD if the selected destination disk is an SSD storage.
• All data on this selected destination disk will be wiped out after you save the operation to physical disk. If there is important data on the destination drive, please make a backup in advance.
• If you clone to a smaller SSD, the first option is grayed out. If you select Sector-by-Sector Clone, it is unable to adjust the size on the destination disk.

Step 5. You can preview the disk cloning operating by viewing the "Pending Operations". To commit the "Pending Operations", please click "Apply" and "Proceed".

Step 6. The cloning process will start and you can check the cloning process.

Ending lines

Hard drive to hard drive transfer can avoid many cumbersome works if you choose a handy tool. AOMEI Partition Assistant can help you quickly and safely finish disk transfer. It also can help you convert disk partition schemes, move installed apps, extend C drive space, clean junk files, etc. After you transfer the old hard drive to another one, you can run other functions to set your disks to a better status.