Before you start, we recommend that you read general information about Disk cloning utility.If you use an UEFI computer and you decided to start the cloning procedure under bootable media, please pay attention to the boot mode of the bootable media in UEFI BIOS. It is recommended that the boot mode matches the type of the system in the backup. If the backup contains a BIOS system, then boot the bootable media in BIOS mode; if the system is UEFI, then ensure that UEFI mode is set.
To clone a disk:
Start Acronis True Image 2021.
On the sidebar, click Tools, and then click Clone disk.
On the Clone Mode step, choose a transfer mode.
Automatic—Recommended in most cases.
Manual—Manual mode will provide more data transfer flexibility. Manual mode can be useful if you need to change the disk partition layout.
If the program finds two disks, one partitioned and another unpartitioned, it will automatically recognize the partitioned disk as the source disk and the unpartitioned disk as the destination disk. In such case, the next steps will be bypassed and you will be taken to the Summary screen.
On the Source Disk step, select the disk that you want to clone.
Acronis True Image 2021 does not support cloning of dynamic disks.
On the Destination Disk step, select the destination disk for the cloned data.
If the selected destination disk contains partitions, you will need to confirm deletion of the partitions. Note that the real data destruction will be performed only when you click Proceed on the last step of the wizard.
If any disk is unpartitioned, the program will automatically recognize it as the destination and bypass this step.
[This step is only available if the source disk has an OS installed]. On the Disk Usage step, select how you are going to use the clone.
To replace a disk on this machine—the system disk data will be copied, and the clone will be bootable. Use this clone for replacing the system disk with a new one on this PC.
To use on another machine—the system disk data will be copied, and the clone will be bootable. Use this clone to transfer all the data to another PC on a bootable disk.
To use as a data disk—the disk data will be copied. Use this clone as a non-bootable data drive.
[This step is only available in the manual cloning mode]. On the Move method step, choose a data move method.
As is—a new partition will be created for every old one with the same size and type, file system and label. The unused space will become unallocated.
Proportional—the new disk space will be proportionally distributed between cloned partitions.
Manual—you will specify a new size and other parameters yourself.
[This step is only available in the manual cloning mode]. On the Change disk layout step, you can edit settings of the partitions that will be created on the destination disk. Refer to Manual partitioning for details.
[Optional step] On the What to exclude step, you can specify files and folders that you do not want to clone. Refer to Excluding items from cloning for details.
On the Finish step, ensure that the configured settings suit your needs, and then click Proceed.
If the cloning operation is stopped for some reason, you will have to configure and start the procedure again. You will not lose your data, because True Image does not alter the original disk and data stored on it during cloning.
By default, Acronis True Image 2021 shuts down the computer after the clone process finishes. This enables you to change the position of master/subordinate jumpers and remove one of the hard drives.