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    How to clone and restore a hard drive

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by dasachmo, Jul 19, 2018.

  1. dasachmo

    dasachmo Notebook Consultant

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    Hi everyone.
    I'm returning a laptop to dell and will be receiving another.
    Is there a way I can literally clone my hard drive, Windows settings programmes etc and then just restore it on the new laptop.
    I'm tired or reinstalling everything then changing settings and debloating windows +disabling cortana! It's more the settings and debloated registry etc.
    I have an external hard drive . But should I do a backup... Image etc?
    Will this work with a new laptop or are certain aspects tied into the serial numbers / motherboard?
     
    dasachmo, Jul 19, 2018
    #1
  2. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Yeah, really easy. Grab Macrium Reflect Free Edition. Image the OS drive to another HDD. You can either create a bootable USB media or install Reflect on the new system and restore the image to put everything back the way it was before. Be sure to save your current product key in case it loses activation and does not re-activate properly after you restore the image. Save the product key on the new system as well. You will want to have both saved in case you have any activation issues. Destroy the data by running diskpart /clean on the laptop you are sending back before you ship it.

    Assuming you have Windows 10... if so, this might be useful information: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/transfer-windows-10-license-new-pc/ (although it may not work the same on an OEM Windows)
     

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    Last edited: Jul 20, 2018
    Mr. Fox, Jul 20, 2018
    #2
    t456, Woodking and toughasnails like this.
  3. Wolfzz

    Wolfzz Notebook Geek

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    Yes I use it too Macrium Reflect Free Edition and run it from a USB stick love it and so quick as I use to use the good old Norton ghost for years.
     
    Wolfzz, Jul 20, 2018
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  4. Woodking

    Woodking Notebook Evangelist

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    Fully agree, Macrium Reflect is an excellent tool and just works like it should. Also used Norton Ghost - even had a copy when it was on a floppy disk!
     
    Woodking, Jul 21, 2018
    #4
  5. StormJumper

    StormJumper Notebook Virtuoso

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    First you shouldn't make a image of a used as your doing it should be a clean image of the factory install minus the bloatware that you uninstall. And also Windows 10 has it's own backup so you can backup to disk or USB of which I usually use DVD if you have a burner to do that with. I myself use Acronis 2017 which can backup NVMe drive and restore to a NVMe drive to make a clean image of my drive and then restore back to another NVMe and on laptop I use the 2017 on DVD or USB depending on bootsetup and backup to ext HDD so I can restore back to the HDD/SSD should problem happen to fix them. But anything use the Windows include backup maker first that is free and a good start.
     
    StormJumper, Jul 21, 2018
    #5