Testing a cloned hdd....will I be able to use it as a bootup drive


  1. provlima
    Posts : 158
    W10
       New #1

    Testing a cloned hdd....will I be able to use it as a bootup drive


    I've just cloned my 1 TB desktop HD onto a n 1 TB HDD and want to test it before installing

    Can I plug the clone into my desktop via USB, change the desktop's BIOS to boot from the cloned disk?
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  3. Stitch194
    Posts : 430
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #2

    I'm afraid you will have to swap the original HD with the clone. Windows can't boot from a usb drive. However if the power and Sata cables are long enough, it's possible without an actual physical install disconnect the original HD and plug into the clone.
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  4. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #3

    You have to create a special system partition and BCD in order to boot the Windows installation from a USB drive. As @Stitch194 stated, to boot just a plain clone, you have to connect it internally. Here's an option:

    5.25-inch Trayless Hot Swap Mobile Rack for 3.5-inch Hard Drive | Dell United States


    There are cheaper and more versatile variations of it, but it plugs into a SATA port on your motherboard and then allows you to slide in a HDD/SSD from the front of the computer. I've got one that accepts both 3.5" desktop hard drives and 2.5" notebook hard drives and SSDs.
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