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Inquiry regarding disk clone mode when using bootable media

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I'm trying to use the bootable media of True Image 2017 to try and clone my old 256GB SSD to my new 500GB SSD. Now when cloning the disks, you offer two options, automatic and manual. I understand how automatic copies all the partitions from the old SSD to the new SSD and proportionally increases the partition sizes on the new SSD. What I want to confirm is what happens in the background when the fine print in the automatic mode says "it makes the disk bootable"? Does it do anything else to make it "bootable"? The old SSD is already bootable, so copying all files off of that drive should already make the new SSD bootable as well, right?

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Kevin, a clone is exactly what it says, an identical copy of the source drive presented on the target drive, so if the source is bootable, the target will be too.

Automatic or manual is simply about how partition sizes are managed - for most users, choosing automatic is the best choice, especially when the target is slightly smaller than the source, i.e. migrating from a HDD to SSD (provided the SSD is of sufficient size to accomodate all the data present).

What is important when performing cloning is:

  1. Always use the bootable Rescue media for cloning - don't start from within Windows.
  2. Always make a full disk backup of the source drive before attemping to clone it.
  3. Never boot with the source and target both connected after being cloned.

Follow Steve's advice for safety. I'll add my two cents:

I am not a fan of cloning. Cloning is an "all or nothing" process. If something goes wrong, the user may end up with two unbootable drives and loss of data. Backup and recovery is a far safer method, and allows for multiple tries if the user is unfamiliar. Cloning has no advantage over full backup and restore, except a slight time saving at the expense of considerably more risk and complexity.

If you do want to clone, it should be performed only after booting from the ATI bootable Rescue Media. Do not allow the PC to boot to Windows with both drives still connected. But, better and safer would be to create a full disk mode backup and restore it to the new drive. Plus, you can save many full system images to a single external drive, versus only one clone.

Clone should be used only by advanced users who know what they are doing. It is riskier and can result in a loss of data and a failed system. Create a full disk mode backup and restore it, using the bootable Rescue Media, to the target disk, as it's far safer and simpler.

 

I agree with the tuttle and Steve; good advice!

Ian

IanL-S wrote:

I agree with the tuttle and Steve; good advice!

Ian

Wow, I've been promoted to "the tuttle", like D-list stars the Hoff and the Situation. :)

tuttle wrote:

IanL-S wrote:

I agree with the tuttle and Steve; good advice!

Ian

Wow, I've been promoted to "the tuttle", like D-list stars the Hoff and the Situation. :)

My recollection is that doing so was not intentional. My attention was split between several things - not good at multitasking these days.

Ian

IanL-S wrote:
My recollection is that doing so was not intentional. My attention was split between several things - not good at multitasking these days.

Aww! All right, back to the E-list. :(