Do You Still Use Xcopy for HDD Clone? Here is An Easy Way!

If you have a need to clone a drive, you might want to try Windows' built-in tools, such as Disk Management and Command Prompt as your initial options. Among these, Command Prompt stands out for its popularity, primarily because of its wide compatibility, including the use of command lines like Xcopy for HDD cloning. However, this method may not be suitable for everyone. Why? To explore the answer, let’s see how it works.

How to use Xcopy for HDD cloning?

Step 1. Launch Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator".

Step 2. Enter the following command: "xcopy c:\ f:\ /s /e /h /i /c /y" and then press "Enter." This command will copy all files and subdirectories, including empty ones, hidden and system files, from drive C to drive F. Remember to adjust the drive letters according to your specific setup.

Note:

When using Command Prompt for drive cloning, you're copying files and folders, not the whole drive or partition.

Please notice that the source and destination drives should use the same file system. If they are different, you should change the file system (for instance, from FAT32 to NTFS) before.

Try an easy alternative to clone hard drive

However, the method described above can be difficult, particularly for beginners, and carries a significant risk of data loss and system crashes due to CMD's interaction with system files. Besides, Xcopy for HDD lacks the capability to clone system files and boot records, which can limit its usefulness for specific tasks.

For comprehensive hard drive cloning, especially when migrating an entire operating system, specialized cloning software with advanced features may be a more suitable option. A program like AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional can serve as a viable alternative method. Let’s see its powerful features when cloning hard drive:

Powerful features of AOMEI Partition Assistant for cloning:
✍ This software can support clone both an entire hard drive or a single partition.
✍ The inclusion of the Hot Clone technique that ensures a seamless cloning process without the need to restart your computer.
✍ Compared with Xcopy method, this tool can migrate only the operating system.
✍ You can count on this program to support all types of file systems and partition styles. Whether you're utilizing FAT32, NTFS, exFAT, or require cloning between MBR and GPT, it's compatible with all.
✍ It offers a range of cloning methods, allowing you to select the one that aligns best with your specific needs.
✍ This tool provides Server Edition for Windows Server users.

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.

Conclusion

Xcopy for HDD cloning may not suitable for everyone. If you are looking for a better alternative, AOMEI Partition Assistant can be a nice choice. Apart from this, it can also be good in computer management. You can use its App Mover, PC Cleaner, Allocate Free Space functions to extend drive space.