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The EFI system partition is important to your Windows operating system since it stores boot loaders, drivers, and applications required during UEFI boot. Without this partition, your Windows OS won't boot correctly. You may want to clone EFI partition to another drive for backup purposes.
Don't worry if your computer is running on Windows 11/10/8/7 and you are wondering how to move Windows EFI boot partition to another drive. This article will describe how you can easily do that using reliable disk clone software. We'll also let you know the preparations needed before cloning the EFI system partition (ESP) to another drive.
| Key Takeaways: How to Clone EFI Partition | |
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1️⃣Step 1. Download & install & run EaseUS Disk Copy. 2️⃣Step 2. Connect the target disk to your PC via a USB to SATA cable. 3️⃣Step 3. Select the EFI system partition in Partition Mode. 4️⃣Step 4. Select the new hard disk as the target disk. 5️⃣Step 5. Adjust the disk layout and click Proceed to clone EFI partition. |
Real-Life Scenarios That Require Cloning EFI Partition
Now that you know the preparations to make, here are some common real-life scenarios and our recommended solutions to fix the issues outlined.
| Scenario | Solution |
| 1️⃣"During Windows installation, I stored the main installation on the C drive while the D drive houses the EFI Windows boot partition. However, I want to move the EFI partition to the C drive and delete the other drives. How can I do that?" -From Microsoft Community. | You can do that easily using cloning software. One software that has proved efficient and I think you should try out is EaseUS Disk Copy. |
| 2️⃣"I initially installed the UEFI boot partition for my Windows 8 on the HDD. However, I want to switch to SSD because of speed and efficiency issues. Is it possible to move along with the EFI system partition?" -From Superuser. | Yes, it's possible to do that. We recommend you use EaseUS disk clone software for cloning purposes. You can also use Clonezilla to migrate your data. |
The next section will discuss how to copy an EFI partition to a new drive.
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Cloning EFI Partition? What Will You Need?
Since cloning an EFI partition to another drive entails moving important data, keeping everything in place is important to guarantee a safe and secure transfer. The key factors that you need to consider before you think of cloning the EFI partition include the following:
- Prepare an HDD/SSD: To ensure a successful transfer, the target drive (whether HDD or SSD) must be able to store the EFI partition. Therefore, you must ensure that there's enough storage space. If not, you can try clearing space or using a larger drive.
- Backup data on the old drive: It's important to back up the data on your old drive to minimize data loss incidents when you want to move your EFI partition to another drive. This ensures you have somewhere to return to if things don't go your way. An efficient free backup software that you can use for this activity is EaseUS Todo Backup.
- Prepare a USB-to-SATA cable: since the cloning process entails moving boot files and settings from one drive to another, you need a connector. One of the best tools that you need for this process is a SATA-to-USB cable. Ensure you have a functional cable, or purchase one if you don't have one.
- Download a reliable disk cloning tool: lastly, the cloning process can't go on if you don't have cloning software. Such software allows you to move the EFI system partition from your old drive to a new one. One cloning software that we recommend (and that we've used in this guide) is EaseUS Disk Copy. Ensure you download it to your PC.
How to Copy EFI Partition to Another Drive via EaseUS Disk Copy
EaseUS Disk Copy provides a fast and reliable way to move or copy partitions from one drive to another, whether HDD or SSD. No matter the location of your EFI partition, this software allows you to copy data from one hard drive to another conveniently. It is useful if your current drive runs out of space or has slowed your system performance.
Apart from performing drive cloning, EaseUS disk cloning software also allows you to move Windows to another drive without reinstalling or losing data, clone a dynamic disk to an SSD, or create a WinPE bootable drive. Also, if you have a failing hard drive, EaseUS allows you to securely copy the data and transfer it to a healthy drive.
To get started with EaseUS Disk Copy, you can download and install the software on your computer today. Next, you can follow the steps below to use it for EFI partition cloning.
Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7
Follow the steps below to use EaseUS Disk Copy to clone EFI partition to another drive:
Step 1. Launch EaseUS Disk Copy and choose Partition Mode.
Download and install EaseUS cloning software on your computer, launch it and choose Partition Mode.
Step 2. Select the source and target partitions.
- Source - the partition you want to make a copy.
- Destination - the partition that you want to clone data to.
- Note that the used space of source partition should be less than the target partition capacity.
Step 3. Adjust target partition layout.
Specify the traget partition layout as your preference. You can choose among:
- Autofit the disk: makes some changes by default on the destination partition layout so that it can work at its best.
- Copy as the source: create a 1-to-1 copy of your source partition, the layout is the same as the source partition.
- Edit disk layout: allows you to manually resize/move layout on this destination partition.
Step 4. Start cloning.
Click Proceed, a message will appears, warning you that data will be lost. Confirm the message by clicking Continue.
Now, it will start partition cloning.
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To Wrap Things Up
If you were stuck on how to clone EFI partition to another drive, this article has outlined everything you need to know. In summary, before cloning your EFI partition, ensure you have a reliable HDD/SSD, backup data on the old drive, prepare a SATA cable, and download the relevant disk cloning tool.
As discussed in this article, the best disk cloning tool to move EFI partition to another disk is EaseUS Disk Copy. This tool is fast, convenient, and mostly applicable if your current drive runs out of space. Ensure you download the EaseUS Disk Copy today to start cloning your EFI system partition.
Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7
FAQS on How to Clone EFI Partition to Another Drive
Below are some frequently asked questions about how to copy EFI system partition.
1. Can I Copy EFI Partition to Another Drive?
You can easily achieve that using third-party software like EaseUS Disk Copy. Just ensure the target drive has enough space so the cloning/copying process won't get interrupted.
2. Why Can't I Clone the EFI Partition of My NVMe Drive to a New NVMe Drive?
Check if there's enough space on your new drive. The destination drive must always have a larger storage capacity than the source. Something else to check out is the USB-to-SATA cable connection. If there's a loose end, data transfer won't happen.
3. Do I Need to Clone EFI System Partition?
It's important to clone an EFI system partition so that you can create a backup. This partition is very important for booting Windows; therefore, it's essential to have a copy to rely on when anything happens with the original copy.
4. How Do I Delete EFI System Partition on My HDD?
Under normal situations, you can't delete an EFI system partition on your HDD. However, with a third-party tool like EaseUS Partition Master, you can easily do that. Follow the steps below:
- Step 1. Download, install, and launch EaseUS Partition Master on your PC.
- Step 2. Navigate to the Partition Manager section and click on it.
- Step 3. Next, right-click on the EFI system partition and select Delete from the drop-down menu. You can then follow the onscreen instructions to finish deleting the partition from your PC.
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