How to Use Robocopy Clone Disk: Best Way & Alternative

What Is Robocopy?

Robocopy is a robust file-copying utility bundled with Windows. It provides the ability to copy or move files from a designated drive path or server path using the Command Prompt. Robocopy has been a standard feature of Windows since Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

While it offers powerful functionality, its syntax can be complex, making it challenging for users without computer experience to utilize effectively. Additionally, certain instructions may not be applicable across different computer configurations. In this article, we will guide you through the process of using Robocopy clone disk. Furthermore, we will explore alternative software options in case the provided instructions are not suitable or successful for your specific situation.

How to Use Robocopy Clone Disk Step by Step

When using Robocopy to copy data from one drive to another, there are two syntax options available: "Robocopy copyall" and "Robocopy move". Here are examples of how to use these Robocopy syntaxes:

▶Syntax 1:

• robocopy C:\src D:\dst /E /COPYALL

This syntax will copy all NTFS ACLs, file owners, subfolders (including empty folders), and all file attributes from the source drive to the destination drive. Replace "C:\src" with the source drive and "D:\dst" with the destination drive in your specific scenario. The "/E" flag includes all empty subfolders, and the "/COPYALL" flag ensures all attributes are preserved.

To execute this syntax, follow these steps:

Step 1. Search for CMD in the start bar, right-click, and select Run as administrator.

Step 2. Once the Command Prompt opens, copy the provided instructions into CMD and modify the source and destination drives according to your actual situation.

Note: Please be aware that when attempting to use the "robocopy copyall" syntax to copy a file from the C drive to the D drive, you may encounter an error prompt indicating invalid parameters, as demonstrated in the accompanying figure.

▶Syntax 2:

• robocopy C:\src D:\dst /MOVE

By using this syntax, files will be moved from the source directory to the destination directory, similar to the copy operation. The key distinction is that, with the move operation, the source files are removed after being copied. The "/MOVE" flag specifies that files and directories should be deleted from the source after the copy is completed.

To utilize this Robocopy clone drive, follow the same steps as mentioned before: enter the command in CMD, and then modify the source drive and target drive according to your specific requirements.

Note: Please note that if you employ the Robocopy move syntax, you may encounter an error prompt indicating invalid parameters, similar to the scenario described previously.

Now that you know how to perform Robocopy disk clone, let's take a look at a simpler method below.

An Easier Way to Clone Disk via AOMEI Backupper

Now that you have learned how to use Robocopy clone disk, it is important to note that Robocopy offers a file and folder level copy rather than a partition or drive level copy. It is not possible to use Robocopy to clone multiple partitions simultaneously on a single disk or copy the file system of the source partition. Additionally, the copy process can be time-consuming and prone to errors.

Are you looking for a simpler way to clone a disk via the Command Prompt? Allow me to introduce the best disk clone software, AOMEI Backupper Professional. Unlike other software that requires you to clean the disk and create a new partition before cloning, AOMEI Backupper allows you to skip this step directly. It is a complete, reliable, and fast cloning software that offers numerous beneficial functions:

★System Clone: Clone system-related partitions, including the C drive, system reserved partition, and EFI system partition, to another location.
★Disk Clone: Copy all data from one disk to another, even if the two disks have different partition styles or sizes. For example, you can clone an MBR disk to a GPT disk or clone an SSD to a larger SSD.
★Partition Clone: Copy a specific partition to another, supporting various file systems such as NTFS, FAT32, FAT16, Ext2, Ext3, Ext4, and more.

Follow the steps below to clone one hard drive to another using AOMEI Backupper's disk copy command:

Step 1. Open the Command Prompt as mentioned previously.

Step 2.Type "cd C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI Backupper" and press Enter. Make sure to change the path after "cd" to match the installation directory of AOMEI Backupper on your computer.

Step 3. Type AMBackup /c /t Disk /s 1 /d 2 and press Enter to clone all the contents from disk 1 to disk 2. Remember to replace the source and destination disks with the appropriate ones for your situation.

Step 4. You will receive a prompt stating that the destination disk will be completely overwritten before AOMEI Backupper starts the clone. If you have already backed up your important data, type "yes" and press Enter to continue.

Step 5. Type exit and press Enter to exit the Command Prompt.

Tips:
๑ If you are unsure about the disk numbers assigned to the source and destination disks, you can run the command "AMBackup /l" to list the disks and partitions on your computer.
๑ If the destination disk is an SSD, you can enhance the process by adding "/a" after the command in Step 3. For example, "AMBackup /c /t Disk /s 1 /d 2 /a". This ensures partition alignment optimization specifically for SSDs.
๑ Explore additional useful parameters and options available in AOMEI Backupper's command lines.

In addition to the command-line approach, AOMEI Backupper offers a user-friendly GUI utility that allows you to clone a hard drive in Windows 10, 8, 7, XP, and Vista. Simply launch AOMEI Backupper, download this software, navigate to the Clone section, and select "Disk Clone" to complete the process effortlessly.

Summary

Next time you need to use Robocopy clone disk using Robocopy, you can choose between the two methods described in this article. These methods are not only suitable for cloning USB drives via command lines but also offer the ability to clone partitions and drives. Unlike Robocopy, AOMEI Backupper provides a partition/drive level copy, which adds more flexibility to the cloning process.

In addition to disk cloning, AOMEI Backupper also allows you to back up Windows 10 to a NAS (Network Attached Storage). If you require portable backup software that can be used on any computer, consider selecting the AOMEI Backupper Technician or Technician Plus edition. Take advantage of these options and get started with your backups today!