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Use Macrium Reflect cloning to copy a working installation directly to another disk, such as when replacing a hard drive with an SSD. Use a disk image to save a backup file for restoration later and to keep recovery points over time. Before cloning, verify the destination: the process can delete its contents.
What cloning and imaging create
A clone copies selected partitions directly to another physical disk. Macrium describes cloning as an uncompressed copy written to the destination. An image is a compressed backup file that can be stored separately and restored later. Macrium explains its backup and imaging options.
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| Decision | Clone | Disk image |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Partitions copied to another disk | A compressed image file for later restoration |
| Typical use | Disk replacement or migration, including HDD-to-SSD moves | Backup files and recovery points retained over time |
| History | A copy of the selected disk state at the time of cloning | Full, differential, and incremental images can form a backup chain |
| Where it goes | Another physical disk; existing destination data may be deleted | A storage location that holds the image files |
| Key dependency | Include the system partitions needed for Windows to boot | Keep the files required by the image chain available for restoration |
When to clone a disk
Choose cloning when your aim is to move a working system or selected partitions to a replacement disk. Macrium identifies moving from a hard drive to an SSD and moving between hard drives as cloning use cases. Its cloning guidance also describes resizing partitions when cloning to a larger destination.
A clone is not a continuing backup history: it reflects the state copied at that time. If files change afterward, the clone does not automatically become a sequence of recovery points.
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Before you start
- Check which disk is the source and which is the destination; a mistaken selection can erase data on the wrong disk.
- Copy any important files off the destination disk first. Macrium warns that cloning is destructive and may delete destination partitions.
- Confirm the target has enough capacity for the selected data and partition layout. A larger target may allow partition resizing; do not assume every smaller target will work.
- For a bootable Windows copy, include the system partitions required by your computer’s configuration. Macrium’s Reflect cloning help gives this requirement, though exact setup and interface details vary by version.
When to create a disk image
Choose imaging when you want a backup file to retain and restore later, particularly if you want multiple points in time. Macrium supports full images and differential or incremental images that capture later changes. Keep the files that make up the relevant backup chain together: restoration may depend on the full image and the applicable differential or incremental files. Macrium describes this dependency in its backup-set guidance.
Store image files somewhere separate from the disk being protected, such as suitable external or network storage. The right location and capacity depend on your setup; the important point is that the image files remain available when you need to restore them.
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Will a cloned disk boot from USB?
Do not assume an externally connected clone will boot on every PC. A Macrium article published on 22 November 2016 says a USB-connected clone must instead be attached to the motherboard’s SATA port to boot. That is dated, setup-specific guidance, not a universal rule for current hardware and Windows configurations. Check your computer’s boot options and the current instructions for your exact setup before relying on an external clone as a boot drive. Macrium’s current backup page covers cloning and imaging generally, but the historical USB statement should not be treated as current universal compatibility guidance.
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Yes. The two methods address different jobs: clone when migrating to a new disk, and maintain image backups for ongoing recovery. Using one does not make the other unnecessary if you need both a migration copy and backup history.
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
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