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Resolved Question

cloning a hard drive

Sep 6, 2011 4:59AM PDT

Can a new hard drive be cloned through a USB port if the old drive is still functioning? I have an external hard drive enclosure with a USB connector.

Discussion is locked

arkyduck has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Just did that (again) last month.
Sep 6, 2011 5:45AM PDT

I used CLONEZILLA. Others use other things. What stopped you from getting this done?
Bob

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hard drive cloning
Sep 6, 2011 7:16AM PDT

I always thought you had to connect the drives internally to clone them. Since I have an enclosure, I thought it would be so much easier to clone the new drive externally. I didn't know it could be done through the USB port. Thanks for the info BOB

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Inside tip. (for speed)
Sep 6, 2011 8:11AM PDT

After doing this too many times over the years I noticed that write speed is slower over than read speed.

This has lead to me putting the new drive inside the machine and the old drive outside in the USB case.

DOWNSIDE? I have to watch my answers and clicks to what drive is the source and which is the one to write to but it may save me an hour.
Bob

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hard drive cloning
Sep 6, 2011 10:38AM PDT

Thanks for the info Bob.