How To Image Any SSD / HDD With Clonezilla - Windows / Linux

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of imaging any SSD or HDD using Clonezilla, a powerful and free disk cloning and imaging software. Whether you're using Windows or Linux, Clonezilla allows you to efficiently replicate, back up, and restore entire systems. By following these steps, you will learn how to create a Clonezilla Live USB, create a disk image, and restore that image when necessary.

Step 1: Create a Clonezilla Live USB

To use Clonezilla, you first need to create a bootable USB drive. Follow these steps:

1. Download Clonezilla ISO

   • Visit the Clonezilla website at clonezilla.org.
   • Download the latest stable version of the Clonezilla Live ISO.

2. Download Rufus

   • Go to the Rufus website at rufus.ie/en/.
   • Download the Rufus application, which will help you create a bootable USB drive.

3. Prepare the USB Drive

   • Insert a USB drive (at least 2GB) into your computer. Ensure that any important data on the USB is backed up, as this process will erase it.

4. Create the Bootable USB

   • Open Rufus.
   • In the "Device" dropdown, select your USB drive.
   • In the "Boot selection" dropdown, choose "Disk or ISO image" and select the Clonezilla ISO you downloaded.
   • Leave the default settings as they are, and click "Start."
   • Confirm any prompts that appear. Wait for the process to complete.

Step 2: Create an Image with Clonezilla

Once your USB drive is ready, you can boot from it and create a disk image.

1. Boot from the USB Drive

   • Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, F12, Esc, or Del during boot).
   • Set the USB drive as the primary boot device.
   • Save changes and exit.

2. Select Clonezilla

   • Once Clonezilla loads, you will see a menu. Select "Clonezilla live" and press Enter.

3. Choose a Mode

   • Select "Device-image" to create an image of your disk.

4. Select Storage Location

   • Choose a location to save the image (e.g., local disk, external USB drive, or network location).

5. Select Disk to Image

   • Choose the disk you want to create an image of. Be careful to select the correct disk.

6. Choose Image Options

   • Select the options you prefer (e.g., compression settings, file system options).
   • Proceed with the default options unless you have specific needs.

7. Start Imaging Process

   • Confirm the choices and allow Clonezilla to start creating the image.
   • Wait for the process to finish. This may take some time depending on the size of the disk.

Step 3: Restore an Image with Clonezilla

To restore a previously created image, follow these steps:

1. Boot from the Clonezilla USB Drive

   • As in Step 1, restart the computer and boot from the Clonezilla USB.

2. Select Clonezilla

   • Choose "Clonezilla live" from the menu.

3. Choose Restore Mode

   • Select "Device-image" again, but this time choose the option to restore the image.

4. Select the Image Location

   • Navigate to where you saved your created image and select it.

5. Select Target Disk

   • Choose the disk you wish to restore the image to. Ensure that you select the correct disk, as this will overwrite any existing data.

6. Confirm Restoration

   • Confirm your choices and start the restoration process.
   • Wait for the process to complete. This may take some time.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to create and restore disk images using Clonezilla. By following these steps, you can efficiently back up and restore your systems, ensuring that your data is secure. For further exploration, consider familiarizing yourself with additional Clonezilla features or experimenting with different backup strategies to suit your needs.