Areas of Use

HDClone specializes in creating physical and logical 1-to-1 clones and file images. HDClone therefore offers special advantages when it comes to copying and rescuing defective media. HDClone can copy disks or save them to an image regardless of the partitioning scheme, the file system used or the installed operating system. This way, HDClone can copy entire system installations and even proprietary file systems exactly. Altogether, HDClone offers a wide spectrum of applications with its universal copying technology. The following text describes the most common uses of HDClone. Descriptions of frequently used applications are listed below.

Hint: HDClone copies data arbitrarily among all types of recognized media, even between different types of disks, etc.

Disk Upgrades & OS Migration

Because HDClone works with any file system format or operating system, it can be used to migrate entire installations, including the installed operating system, to another disk. This is especially useful when migrating an existing installation to a new disk due to not having to re-install the operating system and application. For this type of application, a SmartCopy (or FullCopy) of the entire hard disk is the most suitable option. Use PartitionSelect to choose the individual partitions to be cloned.

Note: Please ensure that only one hard disk is connected after completing the copy, and before starting the operating system. It should be plugged in to the same channel as the original. Therefore, either the copy must be removed, or it may be connected in place of the source media.

Unused Disk Space

Free disk space on the target media can be converted into a partition and used as an additional drive from within Windows by use of the fdisk tool or the Windows Computer Management (C:\WINDOWS\system32\compmgmt.msc).

Smaller Target Media

Copies can be made from larger to smaller media. HDClone has the ability to decrease your NTFS and FAT partition size automatically while copying. For other file systems, you can downsize the partitions on the original media before cloning, using appropriate third-party tools.

Data Rescue

In case of hard disks with defective areas, it is especially important that they are first rescued onto intact media before starting any recovery attempts. Otherwise,depending on the kind of defect, the recovery procedure may cause further defects resulting from the inherent exposure of this procedure. Of course,using HDClone also causes exposure to the hard disk. Yet the physical copying causes much less exposure than any other usage due to its linear operation, i.e.only linear movement of the disk's heads. Furthermore, the option SafeRescue keeps exposure to an absolute minimum. In very critical cases, you can also copy single partitions in order to reduce exposure to the media even more. After rescuing the data from the defective hard disk, you can then perform a recovery on the (functional) target media without risking any further damages.

Important: For the purpose of data rescue, first create a FullCopy or BitCopy of the entire hard disk (or a FullImage or BitImage, respectively). This clone can then be used to conduct recovery attempts without any risk to the original data.
Warning: Only a physical copy allows you to rescue all of the data (except for irrecoverable areas), even if there are logical errors resulting from defective areas. For this reason, never use SmartCopy mode to rescue data.
Hint: Alternatively, you may create a BitImage, or a physical image. You can then restore the image to an intact disk later on, or you can perform the recovery directly on the image by mounting it as a virtual disk.

Installation Backup

HDClone can also create a local backup of an entire system installation. If required, a simple restoration from the backup partition will bring the system installation back to its original state - without any previous affliction of faulty program installations, viruses, etc. In addition to the system partition, create an unused partition of at least the same size as a backup partition. Then create a file image from which to restore the original system when needed.

Hint: Before restoring from the backup partition, save your working files and other data from the system partition, or store them elsewhere as they will otherwise be overwritten.

Mass Copying

HDClone Enterprise Edition was specifically designed to create up to 16 copies at one time. This makes it especially suitable for industrial duplication of preinstalled software (e.g. hard disks or CompactFlash media), or to create several identical operating system installations (Master Installations).

Master Installations

HDClone is also optimal for duplicating (deployment) system installations (mass copying). You may copy an entire disk master directly or from a file image to the target media in order to use it directly from there.

Note: To duplicate Windows installations, we recommend running the Microsoft tool sysprep prior to cloning. Further information can be found at www.microsoft.com, search for 'sysprep.'

Proprietary Formats

HDClone is capable of copying arbitrary hard disk formats. Especially for hard disks installed in proprietary systems (e.g. studio technology, medical technology, etc.), there are often no programs aside from system software, which can read the data on these media. HDClone can rescue this data and transfer it to a new media without any problem. The best way to achieve this is to copy the source media to a target media of the same or larger size. Any target media smaller than the source should not be used, as the transfer of all relevant user data cannot be assured in this case.

Note: With unknown or proprietary (non-standardized) formats, always copy the entire source media. Only copy individual partitions if you are certain that the partitions are correctly displayed.

Forensic Examination

HDClone also serves to secure data for forensic purposes, as all data from a disk is copied completely - including data that has possibly been hidden or deleted. This data can no longer be reached via the usual file system mechanisms. Therefore, it is advisable to create a copy in BitCopy mode or as a RAW image before performing a detailed forensic examination of secured disks. This allows you to make changes to the copy during analysis without altering and thereby endangering the original content of the media.

Note: When backing up data for forensic examination, hidden and deleted files can be located anywhere on the media, the creation of a copy of the entire media to a target media of the same or larger size is always required. Never use SmartCopy mode for this type of application.

Image Files

In HDClone, working with physical and logical images follows the same basic logic as physical and logical copies, which are performed directly from one storage media to another. File images offer the following advantages:

Example: In order to rescue a defective hard disk, you may create a physical FullCopy instead of a physical FullImage. In both cases, this will result in a bit-wise identical clone of the master hard disk.

HotCopy & LiveImage

HDClone supports the creation of clones or images of a Windows drive while Windows is running - even of the Windows system partition itself. To use this feature, it is not necessary to take any additional steps. When using HDClone/W, the appropriate mechanisms for HotCopy & LiveImage will be activated automatically.