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Acronis HDD Cloning to SDHC?

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Hi there,

I am using Acronis True Image WD Edition, in a Windows 10 x64 environment. So far facing no problems cloning my laptop's HDD to external USB HDD sources, but now I intend to use an SDHC Card as the Destination/Target. Is this possible? I do not intend to boot up or run the OS from the Card, just want to do this for storage purposes (but I want the Cloning function, not creating an image, backups etc.). All user applications have been removed, just clean windows with my settings and system drivers, roughly about 37-40gb. When I want a clean OS with my settings, I would then do the reverse and clone from the SDHC to my HDD again.

Really haven't used SD cards before, so I did a bit of reading, but your advice would be much valued. Would an SDHC UHS-3 64gb or a Micro-SDXC UHS-3 64gb fed through a Sandisk Adapter work if my internal laptop card reader is from circa 2007-2008 and is expressly SDHC? I do not know if there is a generation thing.

I haven't bought the SD card yet, so if it can't gain the benefits of UHS-3 Speed Mark, then would you suggest I buy a Class 10 or something?

Thanks in advance.

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Greetings,
You cannot do what you are saying factually.

The link below refers to version 2014, but in general it provides an overview of how to properly clone one HDD to another.

https://kb.acronis.com/content/44741

This does not involve any other type of storage media besides another "like" disk, smailler or larger. In the event of failure, you would swap this drive in place of a failed disk. You would be able to boot from this device. If you are asking for advice, please consider this. Owning a "full" version of the software has its benefits. Create full disk image back ups of the drives your wish protect. Back up regularly and keep more than one image of your data. Validate these images to confirm integrity. Test your recovery ability by restoring a single file or directory to your desktop to ensure your back ups will work if/when they are needed. Cloning is inherently risky. Disk image back ups are safer and offer greater recovery flexibility.

Hi there, thanks very much for your response and advice. But as I said, I already know how to clone hard disk to hard disk. And I never clone to a new disk to swap in. I mainly clone to a new disk and make that my 'Master Clone', and I move the OS back to my primary drive very frequently to reset my system. So usually I have no data to backup, all that is important to me are the settings and drivers, for convenience. Hence only 40gb at most.

I read the link you posted. So, it is possible to clone to a USB? I don't want to boot from it. They did not comment if I later clone from that USB back to my primary drive, whether my system would be operable? Also, could you comment if this could be done to an SDHC card? I can format SD as NTFS right?

Thanks again.

Greetings,
Its possible to format SD memory with any FS. My recommendations are based on the experience of many, and the recommend (intended) use of the software by the manufacturer. This provides consistent results. I feel it's best that we not discuss semantics. You may use the software as you wish. :)

I see what you mean. So it can be done?- SD Card/USB flash drives will be recognized and show up in the Acronis cloning panel? Sorry I have to keep asking this basic question; it is because I do not have an SDHC Card handy to test this. If someone can confirm if it works, then I would proceed to purchase a few. I am quite short on resources to make any mistakes.

St. John,
The majority of folks here use full versions of the Acronis software. Unless we download and install the version you are using, we do not otherwise have access to the WD specific version you are running. Acronis does not directly support OEM software, its actually the responsibility of the hardware vendor. Similar to how windows is supported. If you buy from MS, you have support from them. If you buy it from HP, Dell, Lenovo.. they provide the end user support. The WD website states their version (which is customized to their specification) only works with WD branded products. I have no idea if their OEM version supports SDHC cards. I can tell you that the full version of Acronis does support this storage media. The boot environment may or may not support this media depending the device and/or chipset you have it connected to. Hope this helps.

Ok thanks, I understand better now. You have been a great help.

St. John,
There is a huge difference in cloning to a USB connect hard disk drive and cloning to a USB connected flash storage device. Flash devices typically can only contain one partition. If your Windows 10 system was installed by an OEM such as HP or Lenovo, then it will be UEFI GPT and contain many hidden partitions. Even if True Image allows you to select the SDHC as a target it will most likely error out shortly after the process starts. UEFI and GPT have drastically changed the boot process. The things that worked in the past with MBR disks do not work with GPT disks. Even if the clone completes, the reverse clone performed later may not produce a working system. You should really look into disk imaging. I think it would suit your needs much better. The purpose of cloning is to create a bootable replacement disk. I doubt you will find anyone who has attempted cloning an OS disk to a SDHC card from which it is impossible to boot Windows.

I have no aversion to cloning. It is a very useful tool, but I don't think it is the right tool for your situation.