How to Clone an SSD or HD with Clonezilla

Clonezilla is a free and open-source tool that allows you to clone hard drives, including SSDs, quickly and efficiently. In this special article on Nerd Codex, we will cover the process of cloning an SSD using Clonezilla step by step.

Before you start, it’s important to remember that cloning an SSD involves transferring all your data, settings, and operating system to a new SSD. So it is highly recommended to back up all your data important before starting the process.

Step 1: Preparation of Clonezilla

Download Clonezilla: Visit the official Clonezilla website (https://clonezilla.org/) and download the appropriate version for your system. Clonezilla is available both as a bootable CD and as an ISO image that can be burned to a USB stick.

Create bootable media: If you downloaded the Clonezilla ISO image, you need to create bootable media using software such as Rufus or Etcher. Follow the instructions provided by the software to create bootable media.

Start your computer from bootable media: Insert the bootable media into your computer and restart your computer. Access your system’s boot settings (usually by pressing the F2, F12 or DEL key during boot) and set bootable media as the first boot option.

Step 2: Clonezilla Setup

Select Clone Mode: Upon starting Clonezilla, you will be presented with a mode selection screen. Choose “device-image” to clone the SSD directly to the new SSD.

Select source device: Clonezilla will display a list of storage devices connected to your system. Select the source SSD, which contains the data you want to clone, and press Enter.

Choose destination option: Next, you will be asked to select the destination option. Choice “local_dev” if the new SSD is connected directly to the system. If the new SSD is connected via a USB adapter or cloning dock, choose the appropriate option.

Confirm the cloning process: Clonezilla will display a summary of the selected settings. Check that everything is correct and confirm the cloning process.

Step 3: Cloning SSD or HDD

Wait for cloning to finish: Clonezilla will start the cloning process and display a progress bar. Wait until the process is complete.

Reboot the system: After cloning is complete, Clonezilla will ask you to remove the bootable media and reboot the system. Follow the instructions provided to restart your computer.

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