How to Backup Hard Drive to Another Hard Drive 2022 [Windows & Mac]
Introduction
Backing up a hard drive to another hard drive is a great option to free up space, prevent data loss, and ensure digital security. By transferring data from a full hard drive to another one, you can create a duplicate copy, safeguard against accidental deletion, and maintain a backup in case of hardware failure. This process is especially useful for individuals who rely heavily on their hard drives for storing important files, photos, and documents.
To backup a hard drive to another hard drive, you can use software like Acronis True Image, Qiling Backup, or Macrium Reflect. These tools allow you to create a sector-by-sector copy of the original drive, including operating systems, applications, and data. You can also use built-in Windows tools like Backup and Restore (Windows 7 and earlier) or File History (Windows 8 and later), or third-party tools like Clonezilla or AOMEI Backupper.
How to Backup Hard Drive to Another Hard Drive?
Here are three methods to backup a hard drive to another one:
- Backup and Restore in Windows
- Time Machine in Mac
- Qiling Backup for Both Windows & Mac
To back up a hard drive to another hard disk, you can use a software like Qiling Backup, which can help you clone the entire hard drive, including the operating system, programs, and data, to another hard drive, making it a straightforward and easy process.
Qiling Backup is a stress-This free backup and restore software offers strong functions that allow you to back up your data to the Cloud and automatically save it to an external hard drive, making it a great tool for non-experts in computers.
What Can Qiling Backup Do?
Qiling Backup offers an easy-to-use backup service, accessible even for those not tech-savvy. It allows users to back up files, folders, and partitions, as well as create a system backup, all while keeping their data safe and intact, regardless of location or time.
- It supports automatic backup and offers three backup modes: full backup, incremental backup, and differential backup.
- Qiling Backup allows you to backup and transfer your system easily while keeping your data safe.
- It allows you to back up your files and disks.
- The software offers various settings and options to customize the output according to the user's preferences, allowing for a tailored experience.
This software is easy to use, safe, and time-saving, making it a trustworthy backup solution. You can learn more about its capabilities by reading on, where I will guide you through the process of backing up a hard disk to another hard drive in both Windows and Mac systems.
Backup Hard Drive to Another Hard Drive in Windows
To backup a hard drive to another hard disk in Windows, you can use Qiling Backup. It's a simple process that can be completed in a few steps. First, download and install Qiling Backup on your computer. Then, launch the software and select the hard drive you want to backup from the list of available drives.
Method 1: Backup Hard Drive to Another Hard Drive with Qiling
Now, it is time to show you how to backup a hard drive to another hard drive with Qiling Backup.
Step 1. Select the Disk/partition backup button in the Backup and recovery page.
Step 2. You can use the software to back up a whole disk or a specific partition, depending on your needs.
Step 3. Select the destination where you want to save the backup.
Step 4. For disk/partition backup, you can choose to save the backup to a local drive or to a network-attached storage (NAS) device.
Step 5. After completing the backup process, your task will be displayed on the left. You can manage your backup by clicking on any task, allowing you to recover it, create incremental backups, and more.
The backup process is easy with Qiling Backup, allowing you to backup an entire hard drive at once. Alternatively, you can use Windows built-in tools to backup some files, but for backing up an entire hard drive or partition, Qiling Backup is still the recommended option, as Windows doesn't support backing up disks or partitions. Next, I will show you how to backup with File History.
Method 2. Using File History to Backup
To back up with File History, select the Settings from the Start menu and follow these steps:
Step 1. To update and secure your system, go to Settings > Update and Security > Backup > Backup Using File History.
Step 2. Choose a backup destination for your backup files, and optionally click "More Options" to proceed with additional settings.
Step 3. Once you've selected the backup destination, you can turn on the feature to automatically backup your files, and Windows will start backing up your files to your chosen hard drive.
Windows backup files every hour by default, but you can adjust this setting to suit your needs. I've introduced two backup methods, but you may still be wondering about backup options on Mac. You'll learn more about that in the next part.
Backup Hard Drive to Another Hard Drive in Mac
To back up a hard drive to another disk on a Mac computer, you can either use the built-in Time Machine feature or the Disk Utility app. Time Machine allows for automatic backups, while Disk Utility enables manual backups. Alternatively, you can also use third-party backup software like Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper.
- Use Qiling Backup.
- Time Machine.
Now, I will introduce the two ways to you here.
Method 1: Backup Hard Drive to Another Hard Drive with Qiling Backup
To back up with Qiling Backup, follow these steps: simply download and install the software, then create a new backup task by specifying the files or folders you want to back up, along with the destination location and schedule. Next, configure any additional settings as needed, such as encryption or compression.
Step 1. Launch and run Qiling Backup for Mac.
To create a backup project, click on the first "Backup" tab or the "+" button in the bottom-left corner, then name the backup project and click "OK".
Step 2. Set up the backup destination where you want to store Mac files as backups, automatic backup frequency, etc and click OK.
Step 3. Add files and folders to the backup project.
To back up your Mac, click File+ to choose specific files and folders to include in the backup, and then click the blue Start button to initiate the backup process, which will copy your selected files to another drive or external device.
If you want to use Time Machine, you can follow these steps: Connect the external hard drive to your Mac and open Time Machine. Select the drive you want to use for backups and click "Select Backup Disk".
Method 2. Backup Hard Drive Files with Time Machine
Time Machine has some limitations, including not backing up iOS devices, iCloud content, email messages or accounts, network settings, and specific system files and applications.
Step 1. To set up Time Machine, click on System Preferences from the Apple menu and choose Time Machine.
Step 2. Click "Select Disk" and choose the connected backup drive as the disk.
Step 3. To set up Time Machine to back up automatically, check the "Back Up Automatically" box, and it will create backup files to your designated backup drive. Additionally, you can configure it to display Time Machine in the menu bar.
Both Time Machine and File History have limitations, but Qiling Backup offers a more comprehensive and easy-to-use solution for backing up Windows 11 or Mac.
Conclusion
There are many backup tools available, including built-in and third-party software. To choose the most suitable and convenient method, consider downloading Qiling Backup, which can streamline the backup process.
FAQs about Backup a Hard Drive to Another - You May Also Like to Know
I list three questions here and hope they will help with your further questions.
How do I backup my C drive to an external hard drive?
To back up your files using File History, go to Start, then Settings, Update and Security, Backup, and Add a drive, and select an external drive or network location to save your backups. This will start your backup plan.
How to backup a dell laptop to an external hard drive?
To back up your device, turn it on, click on the Start button, go to Settings, then Update and Security, followed by Backup, and finally Add a Drive. From there, select an external drive or network storage to store your backups.
Can I copy an external hard drive to another external hard drive?
Yes, you can. Right-To copy a file from one of the hard drives, click on the file you want to copy and then click the "Copy" button.
Right-To transfer a file from your computer to an external hard drive, click on an empty spot on the hard drive you want to transfer the file to, and then click "Paste".
Related Articles
- How to Install Windows 10/8/7 on Multiple Computers at The Same Time | System Deployment Solution
- How to Install Software on Multiple Computers at the Same Time
- A Beginner's Tutorial on How to Make Windows 10 Backup to External Hard Drive
- [Beginner's Guide] Migrate OS from SSD to M.2 SSD with M.2 SSD Clone Software