Utilizing Clonezilla Software: A Comprehensive Guide

Create an identical replica of your hard drive using this free and open-source software

Download the most recent stable release of Clonezilla Live. Access the current version of Clonezilla from its Sourceforge page.

• You can alternatively acquire Clonezilla from the Clonezilla website.

Write the ISO file onto a blank CD or DVD. The procedure for burning Clonezilla onto a CD/DVD varies based on your operating system.

• If opting for a USB drive, download Clonezilla Live as a zip file.
• If creating your own Clonezilla Live CD/DVD or USB drive isn't desired, you can procure Clonezilla CDs and USB drives from authorized Clonezilla vendors.

Connect an external or internal drive. Prior to rebooting with Clonezilla, ensure that a blank external or internal hard drive is linked to your computer.

• For successful disk cloning, the destination drive must be equal to or larger than the source drive being cloned.

Initiate booting from the Clonezilla CD/DVD or USB drive. The process for booting from a CD/DVD or USB drive varies depending on your operating system and computer.

• On Windows or Linux machines, insert the Clonezilla Live CD/DVD and reboot your computer. Press F2, F10, F12, or Del to access your computer BIOS menu. Within the BIOS menu, navigate to the Boot submenu, and modify the first boot device to CD-ROM.
• On a Mac, insert the Clonezilla Live CD/DVD and reboot your computer. While the computer restarts, press and hold the C key until the boot sequence initiates.

Opt for the default Clonezilla mode. Once Clonezilla Live is loaded, it will automatically boot using the default mode selections.

• If you desire other modes, utilize the up or down arrow keys to navigate to various menu options, then hit Enter.

Select your preferred language. On the language selection screen, use the up or down arrow keys to choose your language, then press Enter.

Choose the default keyboard layout. On the Configuring console-data screen, select the Don’t touch keymap option, then press Enter.

• Clonezilla’s default keyboard layout is US. If you’re using a different layout, opt for the Select keymap from arch list or Select keymap from full list options.

Commence Clonezilla. On the Start Clonezilla screen, select the Start Clonezilla option, then press Enter.

Select the device-image option. Navigate to the device-image option and press the spacebar to choose it. An asterisk will indicate selection. Press Enter.

• This option clones the hard disk as an image onto another drive rather than a partition.

Select the local_dev option. Move the cursor to the local_dev option and press the spacebar to select it. An asterisk will show it’s selected. Press Enter.

• This option allows you to clone the hard disk to an internal or external hard disk.

Select the sdb1 8G_ext4 option. Navigate to the sdb1 8G_ext4 option and press space to select it. An asterisk indicates it’s selected. Press Enter.

• This option clones the disk to the first partition on the second internal or external disk.

Choose the directory for the Clonezilla image. Navigate to the / Top_directory_in_the_local_device option and press the spacebar to select it. Press Enter. Review the disk usage report, then press Enter to continue.

Select Beginner mode. Move the cursor to the Beginner option and press the spacebar to select it. An asterisk indicates it’s selected. Press Enter.

• Expert mode options are not covered in this article.

Opt for the save disk option. Move the cursor to the save disk option and press the spacebar to select it. Press Enter.

Enter a name for the disk image. In the Input a name field, input a descriptive name for the saved image, then press Enter.

• It’s often beneficial to include the date in the saved disk image name.

Choose the disk you wish to clone. Move the cursor to the name of the disk you intend to clone, then press the spacebar to select it. Press Enter.

• It’s crucial to know the name of the drive you want to clone. If unsure, it's best to Cancel the process, verify the disk name, and restart from the beginning.

Skip file system check. Opt for the Skip checking/repairing file system option, press spacebar to select it, then press Enter.

• If concerned about the source drive being damaged or corrupted, select the -fscj-src-part option to perform an interactive file system check before cloning the disk.

Verify the saved image. Select the Yes, check the saved image option, press space to choose it, then press Enter.

Decide whether to proceed. This marks the final step before commencing the cloning process. If uncertain about continuing, input N and press Enter. To proceed with cloning the hard disk, input Y and press Enter.

• If you opt to continue, Clonezilla initiates the cloning process.

Exit Clonezilla. Once the hard disk cloning is finished, input 2 and press Enter to begin exiting Clonezilla. On the Choose mode screen, select the Poweroff option, press the spacebar, then press Enter. Before the computer completes shutdown, Clonezilla will prompt you to remove the CD/DVD or USB drive. Do so, then press Enter. Your computer will power off.

Opt for the default Clonezilla mode. Upon loading Clonezilla Live, it automatically boots using the default mode options.

• If you prefer other modes, navigate to different menu options using the up or down arrow keys, then press Enter.

Select your language. On the Choose language screen, use the up or down arrow keys to choose your language, then press Enter.

Opt for the default keyboard layout. On the Configuring console-data screen, choose the Don’t touch keymap menu option, then press Enter.

• Clonezilla’s default keyboard layout is the US keyboard. If you’re using another keyboard layout, select either the Select keymap from arch list or Select keymap from full list options.

Commence Clonezilla. On the Start Clonezilla screen, select the Start Clonezilla option, then press Enter.

Select the device-image option. Navigate to the device-image option, then press the spacebar to choose it. An asterisk will indicate it’s selected. Press Enter.

• This option clones the hard disk as an image onto another drive rather than a partition.

Choose the local_dev option. Navigate to the local_dev option, then press the spacebar to select it. An asterisk will indicate it’s selected. Press Enter.

• This option allows you to clone the hard disk to an internal or external hard disk.

Opt for the sdb1 8G_ext4 option. Navigate to the sdb1 8G_ext4 option, then press space to select it. An asterisk will indicate it’s selected. Press Enter.

• This option clones the disk to the first partition on the second internal or external disk.

Select the directory for the Clonezilla image. Move the cursor to the / Top_directory_in_the_local_device option, then press the spacebar to select it. Press Enter. Review the disk usage report, then press Enter to continue.

Opt for Beginner mode. Move the cursor to the Beginner option, then press the spacebar to select it. An asterisk will show it’s selected. Press Enter.

• To restore a drive, you’ll need both the source and destination drives connected to your computer and turned on.

Restore a cloned disk. Choose the restore disk option, press the spacebar, then press Enter.

Select the cloned disk image to restore. Choose the cloned disk image you wish to restore, press the spacebar, then press Enter.

Select the target disk. Choose the target disk for restoring, press the spacebar, then press Enter. On the next screen, choose the target disk for restoring again, press the spacebar, then press Enter.

• Restoring a cloned drive to a target disk will overwrite any content on the target disk with the cloned drive.

Confirm the restoration. Clonezilla will prompt you twice to confirm if you want to restore the cloned disk. When prompted, type Y, then press Enter. When prompted again, type Y, then press Enter.

Exit Clonezilla. Once the hard disk cloning is finished, type 2, then press Enter to begin exiting Clonezilla. On the Choose mode screen, select the Poweroff option, press the spacebar, then press Enter. Before the computer completes shutting down, Clonezilla will ask you to remove the CD/DVD or USB drive. Do so, then press Enter. Your computer will shut down.