Author Archives: zxl123

Free bootable copy partition

To create an image for important files or partitions is quite time-saving for recovery. For example, if users have copied boot partition in advance, they can restore Windows via copying the boot partition back directly. Well then, how to free copy partition in bootable mode when boot partition gets damaged?

From the internet users can find a lot of drive copy software which can help clone a hard drive, but most works only when Windows can boot normally. Even if users find bootable drive clone software like Ghost, they have to pay for it. Aiming at this situation, we recommend a piece of free bootable drive clone software to copy partition on Windows computer. It is MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable CD which is an iso file. As long as users burn the iso file to USB flash disk, CD, or DVD, they can boot computer via the boot disc to clone partition easily.

How to Copy Partition with Free Bootable Drive Clone Software

Firstly, put the bootable disc to CD driver and start computer to get the following screen:
start-minitool-partition-wizard-bootable-cd-choose-boot-mode
Here, please choose “Boot from Partition Wizard Boot Disc (Safe Mode)” with “↑” or “↓” key.

Now, please choose a suitable display resolution by typing 1, 2, 3, or 4 and click on Enter to launch the free bootable drive clone software:
minitool-partition-wizard-bootable-cd-main-interface
This is the main window of MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable CD. Please select the partition which needs copying and choose “Copy Partition” from the left action pane.
copy-partition-select-unallocated-space
Then, select an unallocated space to save the copy of the selected partition and click “Next>”. Note: the unallocated space should be large enough to save all content on source partition. If not, “Next>” button will be grayed out.

Next, change size and specify location for the new partition and click “Finish”.
copy-partition-apply-change
At last, click “Apply” button to perform all changes. Note: if users are copying boot partition to system disk, please set the new partition active, which makes Windows bootable.

These are all steps to copy partition with free bootable drive clone software. When there is a need, try it out. MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable CD would not disappoint any of you.

Hard disk copy software Windows 7

Question: there are 2 hard disks on my computer, one for data and one for Windows as well as necessary programs. Now, I want to copy the system disk to an external hard disk in case the source Windows and programs crash or can not be used. Is there hard disk copy software for Windows 7 available?

Answer: Of course, there is, and users can find such tools from the internet. Nevertheless, professional software is always expensive while freeware has defects. But here we will introduce a piece of quite excellent free hard disk copy software for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 users. It is MiniTool Drive Copy.

With this drive copy freeware, users can clone both hard disk and a single partition, and detailed prompts are shown in every step. All copied files including Windows can be used normally like source files. Therefore, to clone disk is a quite good method for disaster restoration.

How to Copy System Disk with Hard Disk Copy Software for Windows 7

1. Run MiniTool Drive Copy to open the starting interface:
minitool-drive-copy-starting-interface
2. Select “Disk to Disk” to clone the entire disk.

3. Select the system disk and click “Next>”. Then, choose the disk which will save the copy of the system disk and click “Next>”.

4. Choose a copying method according to actual demands and click “Next>”. After this operation, a note which shows how to boot from the new disk will emerge. Read it carefully and click “Finish” to get the interface below:
copy-system-disk-starting-copying
5. Click “Yes” to start copying system disk. Note: since system disk is being used, users will be asked to reboot the computer. Just click “Start Now” and the drive copy freeware will perform all operations in boot mode.

After seeing the introduction above, users would regard MiniTool Drive Copy as a piece of excellent hard disk copy software for Windows 7 disk copy. Try it when there is a need.

Clone Windows 7 hard drive to larger drive

Question: my current hard drive is so tiny that all partitions are nearly running out of space. Therefore, I bought a 1TB WD disk and plan to replace the old small one with it. But the problem is how to transfer all installed programs to new disk. Who can recommend me an easy and safe way to clone Windows 7 hard drive to a larger drive? I don’t want to reinstall anything.

Answer: Using free drive clone software must be your best choice, which directly copies the entire disk, including all partitions, data information, file system, cluster size, and so on. Compared with one-by-one file transferring, disk copy saves lots of time and helps avoid unnecessary troubles. If users do not know which drive clone freeware to download, try using MiniTool Drive Copy. It can help clone any type of hard drive to a larger one without bringing any damage to original data. Detailed operations will be shown in the following content.

How to Clone Windows 7 Hard Drive to Larger Drive with MiniTool Drive Copy

When this free drive clone software has been installed, please run it to get the starting interface below:
minitool-drive-copy-starting-interface
Here, 2 functional modules are listed, namely “Disk to Disk” and “Partition to Partition”. Please choose the former to clone the entire disk.
clone-windows-7-hard-drive-select-source-drive
Then, select the system disk and click “Next>”. After that, select the drive that will save the copy of the source disk and click “Next>”.

Next, choose one of copying methods from three and click “Next>” to get a note shown below:
clone-windows-7-hard-drive-note
This note is useful for users who want to boot computer from the new large disk, and they need to set the new disk as the default boot disk in BIOS. Then, click “Finish” to get the following interface:
clone-windows-7-hard-drive-starting-cloning
Here, as long as users click “Yes”, MiniTool Drive Copy will clone Windows 7 hard drive to the larger drive automatically. Note: if Windows 7 is being used, the free drive clone software will ask users to reboot computer, and it will perform operations in boot mode. This is for data security.

Do you want to replace the old or small hard disk with a new or capacious one? Take the recommended method.

Copy hidden disk partition

For sake of data security or system restoration, some important partitions in Windows will be hidden by default, such as System Reserved Partition (for boot), OEM partition (for recovery), and Recovery Partition (for recovery). Nevertheless, hidden partitions are not absolutely safe, and virus or our mistaken operations may bring damage to them. Once these partitions are damaged or lost, users will suffer serious losses. For example, if the system reserved partition gets lost, Windows will be unable to boot. Therefore, it is quite necessary to copy hidden disk partitions. Well then, how can users complete this operation with ease?

The Best Way to Copy Hidden Disk Partition

Both Ghost and MiniTool Drive Copy can help make an image for a hidden partition, but the former is not recommended since it is not free and requires relatively complex operations. MiniTool Drive Copy is a piece of free drive copy software for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 users. Moreover, detailed prompts are given in every step. Let’s see specific operations.

How to Copy Hidden Disk Partition via MiniTool Drive Copy

Firstly, launch the free drive copy software to get the following interface:
minitool-drive-copy-main-window
Then, choose “Partition to Partition”.
copy-hidden-hard-disk-partition-select-the-hidden-partition
Next, select the hidden partition which needs copying and click “Next>”. Then, choose an existing partition or unallocated space to create the copy of the selected hidden partition, and then click “Next>”. Note: the selected partition or unallocated space should be large enough to save all content on the hidden partition, and all data on the selected existing partition will be lost.
copy-hidden-hard-disk-partition-move-resize-partition
Then, change the size and location for the newly created partition and click “Finish”.

At last, click “Yes” to start copying hidden disk partition. Note: if users copy the partition which is being used, the free drive copy software will ask them to restart computer, and then all operations will be performed in boot mode.

Moreover, hidden partition can not be seen in “My Computer”. If users want to make it visible, please see how to show hidden hard disk partition.

What is cloning software why is it important

A lot of users may be not very familiar with cloning software, so we will make a brief introduction to it in this article.

What Is Cloning Software

Drive cloning software is a kind of computer program which can help users create an image for a single partition or even the entire hard disk. Information such as real files, partition type, file system, and cluster size will be included. Different cloning programs are designed for different running platforms, some for Windows, some for Mac OS X, and some for Linux. Nowadays, Windows cloning software is most widely used since Windows OS takes the leading position.

Why Is Cloning Software Important

In daily computer use, you may need to transfer all information from one partition or disk to another (transfer Windows to SSD; upgrade HDD to SSD; replace small or damaged disk with a new one). At this time, the most time-saving method is to clone partition or disk via cloning software. Moreover, if a backup has been made in advance, users can make use of it to complete data recovery, partition recovery, or even system recovery in a quite short time. Therefore, it is very necessary to equip every computer with a drive cloning program.

Cloning Software Recommendation

From the internet users can find a lot of cloning programs, but most of them do not know which one is better. Here, we suggest using MiniTool Drive Copy. Main reasons are as follows:
1. It is a piece of freeware.
2. Data protecting solutions are provided.
3. Detailed prompts are given in every step.

How to Image Partition with MiniTool Drive Copy

Step 1: launch the free cloning software to get its starting interface shown below:
minitool-drive-copy-starting-interface
Step 2: choose “Partition to Partition” to clone a single partition since “Disk to Disk” is for disk clone.
image-partition-select-source-partition
Step 3: select the partition which needs cloning and click “Next>”. Then, choose an unallocated space to create a new partition as the target partition (recommended). Of course, users can also choose a partition to save content, but all original data will be lost. Then, click “Next>” to get the following interface:
image-partition-move-reisze-partition
Step 4: drag the border of partition handle to change partition size and drag the whole handle to move partition location. Then, click “Finish” to get the window below:
image-partition-start-cloning
Step 5: click “Yes” button to start cloning partition.

After these steps, to backup partition is completed. And now users would know what cloning software is and why it is so important. For faster data restoration or convenient data transferring, download the free cloning software MiniTool Drive Copy to back up your partition or hard disk.

How to create an image of an active hard drive

Question: recently, one of my friends suffered such a disaster: he deleted the active partition in Windows 7 by mistake, and then the whole Windows could not boot and he had to reinstall OS. Considering this situation, I want to clone my active partition to other disks in case of accidents. How to create an image of an active hard drive? Is there a good idea? BTW, I’m running Windows 8.

Answer: it is indeed quite necessary to clone active partition, which can help realize faster system recovery. Here, we recommend users a piece of quite good drive copy software to complete this operation, and it is called MiniTool Drive Copy. Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 users can use it without costing any money. Next, let’s see detailed steps to clone an active partition.

How to Create an Image of an Active Hard Drive with MiniTool Drive Copy

1. Run recommended drive copy software to get its main interface:
minitool-drive-copy-main-interface
2. Choose the functional module “Partition to Partition” since it is for partition clone.
how-to-make-an-image-of-an-active-hard-drive-select-active-partition
3. Select the active partition we want to clone and click “Next>”. Then, choose an unallocated space (recommended) or existing partition as the target partition to save content on the source partition and click “Next>”. Here, we are going to image active hard drive to unallocated space on disk 2.
how-to-make-an-image-of-an-active-hard-drive-move-resize-partition
4. Change the size of the target partition by dragging the border of partition handle and move partition location by dragging the whole handle, and then click “Finish”.

5. Click on “Yes” button to starting cloning active partition.

After these steps, we can say the problem how to create an image of an active hard drive is completed by using the free drive copy software MiniTool Drive Copy.

Moreover, when there is something wrong with the source active partition and Windows can not boot, please take the following steps to recover it: free download MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition Bootable CD which is an iso file, burn it to CD, DVD, or USB flash drive, boot computer via the boot disc, copy the backup to system disk in Partition Wizard, and set the new boot partition primary and active. After that, Windows can boot normally. For detailed steps and thumbnail help, please see restore active partition with the backup.

Copy recovery partition Windows 8

After installing Windows 8 or upgrading to Windows 8, users should spend some time to make a new recovery partition to USB flash drive, external hard disk, or other external storage devices. With this new recovery partition they can reset or refresh system much more easily. Well then, how to copy recovery partition of Windows 8?

Some users think of using Recovery tool in Control Panel, but it will not work when the system doesn’t know where the Recovery Partition image is located. And some users plan to use Xcopy, but it has many limitations. Actually, there is a quite easy and safe way to copy recovery partition of Windows 8, namely using the free drive copy software MiniTool Drive Copy. Partition to Partition copy feature in this software copies all information including data, file system, cluster size, etc from one partition to another without brining any damage.

As a matter of fact, MiniTool Drive Copy also supports copying the entire disk apart from copying partition, and the copy can be used normally. Next, let’s see an example which shows how to clone Windows 8 recovery partition to a USB flash drive.

Copy Recovery Partition of Windows 8 with MiniTool Drive Copy

1. Run free drive copy software to get its main window shown below:
minitool-drive-copy-main-window
2. Choose the functional module “Partition to Partition” since it is specially used to image a single partition.
copy-recovery-partition-windows-8-select-recovery-partition
3. Select the recovery partition and click “Next>”.

4. Choose a partition or unallocated space on the USB flash drive to save the copy of recovery partition, and then click “Next>”.
copy-recovery-partition-windows-8-move-resize-partition
5. Move/resize partition and click “Finish” button.

6. Click “Yes” to starting copying.

These are all steps to copy recovery partition of Windows 8. Resort to the free drive copy software MiniTool Drive Copy when there is a need.

What is the function of the disc copy

A brief Introduction to Disc Copy of MiniTool Drive Copy

Disc copy is a quite powerful feature in MiniTool Drive Copy. Well then, what is the function of disc copy? It copies all disk information from one disk to another (namely make a image for the original disk), including data, partitions, file system, partition type ID, cluster size and so on, and data on the copy can be used normally. For example, if we copy the disk which is saving Windows to a new larger disk, we are able to boot computer from the new system disk.

What Is Disc Copy Used for

We have said what is the function of the disc copy feature, and next we will introduce what it is used for. Copying disk can be employed when users want to complete one of the following tasks:
1. Backup all data information on one disk to another disk for faster restoration.
2. Upgrade older or smaller disk to a newer or larger one without data loss.
3. Replace HDD with SSD without losing data.
4. Replace damaged disk with new disk.

How to Copy Disk with MiniTool Drive Copy

First of all, users need to download and install the drive copy software on computer. Then, connect the new disk with computer. Next, launch the program to get its main interface:
minitool-drive-copy-main-interface
Then, choose the module “Disk to Disk” to copy the entire disk:
copy-disk-select-source-disk
In the interface above please select the source disk (namely the disk which needs copying) and click “Next>”.

Then, select the target disk (namely the disk that will save content on source disk) and click “Next>”.

Next, choose one copying method from 3 and click “Next>” to get the following note
copy-disk-note
Next, read the popup note carefully which shows how to boot from new disk, and then click “Finish” button.

At last, click “Yes” to starting copying disk. When all operations are completed, the work to copy disk via MiniTool Drive Copy is done.

Now, users would know what is the function of the disc copy feature as well as how to complete this work.

Copy recovery partition to flash drive

Question: I want to copy recovery partition to flash drive in case the source is attacked by virus or deleted by mistake, but I do not know which third party tool can help complete this operation with ease. Can you give me a suggestion? Much appreciate.

Recovery Partition is always a hidden partition which safely stores a complete copy of Windows, drivers and necessary programs. We can use it to return our computer to the exact state it was in the first day we had it. Therefore, it is quite necessary to copy recovery partition to flash drive. If we want to complete this operation with ease, the free drive copy software MiniTool Drive Copy is available. With it, users can copy any type of partition such as primary partition and logical partition to both local disk and external drive even if it is hidden. Moreover, it supports cloning FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, VFAT, NTFS and NTFS5 partitions in 32 bit and 64 bit Windows 2000 Professional/XP/Vista/7/8.

How to Copy Recovery Partition to Flash Drive with MiniTool Drive Copy

1. Launch the free drive copy software to get its main interface:
minitool-drive-copy-main-interface
2. Choose “Partition to Partition” module to clone a single partition.
copy-recovery-partition-to-flash-drive-select-recovery-partition
3. Select the recovery partition we want to copy and click “Next>”.

4. Select a partition or unallocated space on the flash drive to save content on source recovery partition and click “Next>”.

5. Change location and size for the target partition and click “Finish”.
copy-recovery-partition-to-flash-drive-start-copying
6. Click “Yes” to start copying recovery partition to flash drive.

After these 6 steps, copying recovery partition is done. Well then, how to make use of the copy on flash drive to restore our computer? Firstly, please connect the flash drive with computer. Then, copy the recovery partition on flash drive to computer with the free drive copy software MiniTool Drive Copy. Next, factory reset computer via the recovery partition.

Windows 7 disk imaging software

Question: I have downloaded and installed all necessary programs and services (nearly 20GB) to a specified partition of my Windows 7 computer, and now I want to make an image for all these files so that I can use them on other computers. I don’t want to copy them one by one because this is much time-wasting. Is there Windows 7 disk imaging software to backup the whole partition? Freeware is much better. Much thanks in advance.

Answer: there are a lot of backup tools on the internet, but excellent ones are always not freeware or even quite expensive. Aiming at this situation, we recommend a piece of free disk imaging software for Windows 7 users and other common Windows users. It is MiniTool Drive Copy. It copies a single partition as well as an entire disk to target partition or disk in several simple operations, and all data will be well protected. See the following example to get detailed operating steps.

Image Hard Drive Partition with MiniTool Drive Copy

First of all, launch the free disk imaging software in Windows 7 to get its starting interface:
minitool-drive-copy-starting-interface
Then, choose the functional module “Partition to Partition” to image a single partition since “Disk to Disk” module is for disk clone.

Next, select the source partition which will be copied and click “Next>”. Then, select a partition or unallocated space as the target partition to save content on source partition and click “Next>”.

Then, change the location and size for the target partition and click “Finish” to get the following interface:
image-hard-drive-partition-start-copying
Here, please click “Yes” to start cloning the partition. If users want to give up previous operations, please click “No” to discard all changes. Note: if users are copying a system partition, the free disk imaging software will ask them to restart Windows 7 computer since it is being used. Do it as told since it will not bring any damage to data and partition. And when all changes are completed, to image hard drive partition in Windows 7 is finished.

This is only a demo to clone a partition, and users who are planning to image the entire disk with MiniTool Drive Copy, please see Disk Clone Windows 7.