A bootable USB drive is a handy tool for installing operating systems, booting live environments or even rescuing data. It’s always recommended to have a backup of such a drive, and cloning it is the easiest way to create one. Cloning a bootable USB drive means copying the exact copy of data that’s on the drive to another USB drive, where both drives will have the same file system, partition, and boot configuration.
Cloning a bootable USB drive requires a specific set of software, including built-in tools or third-party applications. In this guide, we’ll show you how to clone a bootable USB drive using both Windows built-in utility and third-party applications. Regardless of which option you choose, you’ll be able to create a backup of your bootable USB in no time. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to clone any bootable USB drive you want, and have a backup to rely on if the original one ever fails.
How to Clone a Bootable USB Drive?
Cloning a bootable USB drive involves copying the entire contents of one USB drive to another identical USB drive. This can be done in order to create an exact duplicate of the original USB drive or to make another copy of a bootable USB drive. Here are the steps to clone a bootable USB drive:
1. Insert the original bootable USB drive into your computer’s USB port.
2. Launch a disk cloning software program such as EaseUS Todo Backup, or Clonezilla. (Make sure the software is compatible with your operating system.)
3. In the software, choose the option to clone a disk or a partition.
4. Select the original USB drive as the source disk.
5. Select the destination USB drive, which should be identical to the original USB drive.
6. Choose the option to clone the entire disk and all partitions.
7. If the destination disk is larger than the source disk, select the option to resize the partitions to fit the new drive.
8. Click on start cloning and wait for the process to complete.
9. Once the cloning process is done, eject both USB drives from your computer.
10. Test the cloned bootable USB drive to make sure it works properly.
Note: Cloning a bootable USB drive may take a while depending on the size of the drive and the speed of your computer.
FAQ
1. What is the purpose of cloning a bootable USB drive?
Cloning a bootable USB drive creates an exact replica of the original drive, allowing you to have a backup copy or transfer the contents to another drive.
2. What software can I use to clone a bootable USB drive?
There are various software options for cloning a bootable USB drive, such as Clonezilla, Macrium Reflect, and EaseUS Todo Backup.
3. What steps do I need to follow to clone a bootable USB drive?
To clone a bootable USB drive, you need to connect both the original drive and the target drive to your computer, launch the cloning software, select the source and destination drives, and initiate the cloning process.
4. Can I clone a bootable USB drive without losing any data?
Yes, when you clone a bootable USB drive, it creates an exact copy of the original, including all the data and settings, so you won’t lose any information.
5. Can I use the cloned bootable USB drive on another computer?
Yes, the cloned bootable USB drive can work on any computer that supports booting from USB devices, just like the original drive.
Conclusion
Cloning a bootable USB drive may seem like a challenging task, but as we have seen, it is a fairly straightforward process that involves the right tools and a little bit of patience. Using any of the methods we have outlined above, you can create an exact copy of your bootable USB drive, complete with all its contents and settings. This can come in handy in situations where you need to transfer your system to another device or create backups of important data. With the right knowledge and tools, cloning a bootable USB drive can be a breeze.
