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The C drive (by default, the system drive) is the primary hard disk partition that contains the operating system (OS), applications, and related system files. When you plan to copy C drive to new drive, it means you want to clone the Windows OS to an external storage device, making an exact 1-to-1 copy of your system drive, and you can boot other devices with this bootable cloned drive. This post explains how to clone the C drive to an external hard drive.
| Key Takeaways: How to Copy C Drive to External Hard Drive | |
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Step 1. Download and install EaseUS Disk Copy. Step 2. Connect the external disk to your PC via a USB-to-SATA/NVMe adapter. Step 3. Run EaseUS clone software and select System Mode. Step 4. The C drive will be selected as the source disk by default. Step 5. Select the external disk as the target disk. Step 6. Adjust the target disk layout, and click Proceed to clone C drive to external HDD or SSD. |
Why Copy the C Drive to an External Hard Drive
My laptop has only one SSD of 500GB with Windows 11 installed and data stored, but with the passage of time, the storage is becoming increasingly limited, so I keep transferring my data to an external SSD to make more free space for my PC, so I can run more resource-intensive apps.
But I have gotten fed up with this, so I have bought a new 2TB SSD and intend to transfer all my data and Windows, but not to mess up everything and lose any data. How do I move my C: boot drive to the new SSD? Is a fresh install needed? Plus, my laptop has only one slot. Any advice is appreciated! TIA!
Do you also want to copy C: boot drive to another drive? You may need to clone or transfer the C drive to an external hard disk for various reasons. The following are the benefits of making a copy of the system drive to another one.
- Improved computer performance. Many applications and data are stored on C drive as time passes. Under such circumstances, you should clone the system drive to an external drive and boot it from the drive to improve computer performance.
- Bootable disk. When your computer fails to work, you must buy a new one. At this time, you may want to copy C drive to a new drive, such as an SSD or HDD, as a portable boot disk before having the new computer.
- Backup & Time-saving. If your computer stops working and you want to upgrade it, it is better to clone the C drive to a new drive. As a result, you can save time reinstalling the OS and the necessary applications.
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Best Disk Cloning Software for Windows Free Download
Cloning a C drive is more challenging than backing up or copying a file or folder. Everything on the drive must be cloned. When done manually, the process will be rather time-consuming because there is a lot of data on the system drive. But don't worry, there is a way out. There will be special disk-cloning software, EaseUS Disk Copy, available for you to easily and quickly clone the C drive to an external hard drive.
EaseUS Disk Copy, one of the best tools to copy C drive to external HDD, is an easy-to-use disk cloning tool compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7. It can help you clone hard drives, operating systems, disks, partitions, and application data. It allows for upgrading a hard disk to a bigger one and cloning an HDD to an SSD for better performance.
While cloning the operating system to an external hard drive, EaseUS will copy every system-related file and folder, ensuring that you can boot smoothly from the cloned disk without any data loss. In addition, it can resize and rearrange partitions during the cloning process. It is an ideal tool for anyone looking for a reliable way to migrate an existing Windows system to a new hard disk, such as a larger hard drive. For example, it can help you copy your Windows installation to an SSD.
Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7
Download it for free and transfer C drive to new drive. It will satisfy all your cloning needs with simply clicks.
How to Clone C Drive to External Hard Disk Without Reinstalling OS
Among the many cloning software available on the market, why do we suggest you use EaseUS Disk Copy? EaseUS Disk Copy is also very easy to use, except for the features mentioned above, because you can finish the disk cloning process in a few clicks. The following are the steps about how to copy C drive to another drive with EaseUS cloning software.
- Notice:
- If your external disk is brand new, EaseUS clone software can directly migrate the OS to it.
- Ensure that the other drive that you want to copy to has enough capacity to accommodate your C drive.
- Connect the external devices to your computer with an adapter in advance. Or if your computer has extra disk slot, install it.
Video Tutorial on How to Transfer C Drive to New SSD or HDD:
- 00:26 - What to Do Before Transferring C Drive
- 01:31 - How to Transfer C Drive to SSD
- 02:57 - Ending
🧩Step-by-step guide on cloning drive C to another drive using EaseUS Disk Copy:
Before cloning:
- Install or connect the destination disk that you want to move OS to your computer, and make sure it can be appropriately recognized.
- Ensure the target HDD or SSD has enough capacity to accommodate your system files. Generally speaking, Windows 11 requires at least 64GB of storage, and Windows 10 takes about 16-20 GB for a 32-bit or 64-bit installation.
Step 1. Launch EaseUS Disk Copy and choose System Mode.
Install EaseUS Disk Copy system migration software on your computer, launch it, and choose System Mode. EaseUS Disk Copy will select the current system you use by default, including all system-related files and boot sectors.
*If you apply dual-boot system, you can select another system by yourself.
Step 2. Select the target HDD/SSD.
Choose the destination HDD/SSD that you want to move OS to.
Step 3. Adjust target disk layout.
Specify the target layout as your preference. You can choose among:
- Autofit the disk: makes some changes by default on the destination disk layout so that it can work at its best.
- Copy as the source: create a 1-to-1 copy of your source disk, the layout is the same as the source disk.
- Edit disk layout: allows you to manually resize/move the partition layout on this destination disk.
*The option Auto-alignment to 4K will be checked automatically to optimize the performance of your SSD.
Step 4. Start cloning OS.
Click Proceed, and a message will appear, warning you that data will be lost. Confirm the message by clicking Continue. Now, it will start cloning OS to the new disk.
Now, it will start cloning OS to the new disk.
After cloning, if you want to change and boot your system from the cloned disk, here are the steps.
Step 1. Install the cloned new disk to your PC.
- If the PC has one slot, replace the old M.2 SSD.
- If the PC has two slots, insert the new M.2 disk into the empty slot.
Step 2. Restart PC and press F2/F8/F11 or Del to enter BIOS.
Step 3. Go to the Boot menu, change the boot menu, set the new clone disk as the boot drive.
Step 4. Press F10(or F8/F2) or save the changes, then restart the computer.
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The Bottom Line
Now, do you know how to clone C drive to external hard drive? After reading this article, cloning a C drive to an external drive via EaseUS Disk Copy will be a breeze. EaseUS Disk Copy is a top-notch cloning utility for all computer users to clone various storage devices, such as a navigation SD card, a USB drive, an external drive, an SSD, etc.
Besides, it also enables you to clone NVMe SSD to SATA SSD. Due to its minimalist design and easy-to-use interface, you can use it immediately, regardless of your technical knowledge. Try EaseUS Disk Copy now to migrate OS to external drive; it will not let you down.
Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7
FAQs on How to Clone C Drive to External Hard Drive
1. How do I transfer everything from my computer to an external hard drive?
Transferring data from a computer to an external hard drive is very easy. You can plug the hard drive into the computer, select the files on the computer you want to transfer, and then copy these files to the external drive.
2. Can I clone C drive to D drive?
Yes, you can clone your C drive to your D drive. Ensure your D drive has enough space to hold your data on your C drive and find a reliable disk cloning program to clone C drive to D drive.
3. How do I Backup my C drive?
Click on Start, type backup in the Search box, then click Backup and Restore. Under Back up files or your entire PC, click Back up files. Click Next after choosing where to save your backup.
4. How to copy C drive to external hard drive without software?
If you plan to clone a hard drive without software, it is almost impossible. However, if you want to backup system drive to external hard drives, you can try the Windows Backup & Restore.
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Jerry
>"I hope my articles can help solve your technical problems. If you are interested in other articles, you can check the articles at the bottom of this page, and you can also check my Facebook to get additional help."…Read full bio
