How to Duplicate the Contents of an External Hard Drive to Another: Step by Step Guide

Mirroring the contents of an external hard drive to another drive is a recommended practice to have a backup copy of your most important data. This will allow us to recover quickly in case the original disk is lost or damaged.

Whether due to a mechanical problem on the disk , due to an accident such as liquid spills, or simply due to theft or loss, having an identical copy on another disk gives us peace of mind that our files will be protected.

In order to carry out this duplication process we will need some basic elements:

• Two external hard drives , one to store the original copy and the other to host the backup copy.
• A computer with which to connect both drives through the USB port.
• Disk backup and cloning software that automatically copies all content from one to another with just a few clicks.

In this way we can obtain an identical replica of our disk and data, quickly and without having to copy the files one by one.

Required Materials Duplicate an External Hard Drive

2 external hard drives :

• They must be the same size or larger than the destination disk to accommodate the entire copy.
• Check that both are working correctly before starting the process.
• USB drives from recognized brands are a good option.

Computer :

• You will need a computer, either desktop or laptop, with available USB ports.
• Check that the computer and operating system have the minimum requirements for the software to be used.

Backup software:

• There are free options like Clonezilla or commercial programs like EaseUS.
• This will automatically scan the source disk, copy all the files and verify the copy in a simple way.
• It must be compatible with your computer's operating system and have disk cloning capabilities.

These basic elements will allow us to have the necessary resources effectively and economically to carry out the duplication without difficulties.

Disc copy software

Free and paid options:

• Clonezilla : Widely used free software, but can be complicated for beginners.
• Macrium Reflect : Free for personal use, fast and easy to use.
• EaseUS Todo Backup : Paid but more complete, with extra options.

Features of EaseUS Todo Backup:

• Allows you to clone and duplicate disks quickly and safely.
• Back up up to 32 types of files and hidden parts.
• Programmable to schedule periodic copies.
• 256-bit AES encryption to protect data.
• Incremental copies to save space.
• Compatibility with Windows, Mac OS, iOS and Android.
• Automatically recognizes connected hardware.
• Leading software with more than 200 million downloads.
• Trial versions available.

EaseUS offers a friendly interface for new users. In addition to cloning, it works as a complete backup. It is a good option for this process due to its versatility and advanced features.

Full backup

Connect both drives:

• Plug the source drive into your Windows, Mac OS, or Linux computer.
• Also connect the destination disk that will host the copy.

Start the software:

• Open EaseUS Todo Backup, click on “Disk Copy”
• Select the hard drive you want to copy

Select origins and destination:

• The source will automatically be the source connected disk.
• Designates the empty destination disk as the location to save the copy.

Copy options:

• You can choose between copying just the data or cloning sector by sector.
• Complete cloning is recommended for identical copies.
• Review verification and comparison preferences.

These steps allow you to configure in a guided way to carry out the process in an automated way.

Checking the copy

Check the space used:

• In EaseUS, go to “Manage Copies” and select the most recent one.
• Check that the total size matches the source disk.
• This confirms that all data was copied correctly.

Check the copied files:

• Open the hard drive copy from file explorer.
• Browse through the folders and make sure the files are the same.
• You can also check modification dates, sizes, etc.
• Download a test file to validate its correct operation.

These simple but important steps allow us to be sure that the backup copy is truly identical to the original and we can use it if necessary.

Troubleshooting

Common errors and solutions:

• Error detecting the disk : Check that it is properly connected, update drivers, try another port.
• Copy failure : This may be due to lack of space, slow disk speed, or data errors. Check space, use a faster disk, and disable copy verification to speed up the process.
• Files not copied correctly : This may be due to permissions or unsupported file format. Change access permissions or exclude problematic files.

What happens if the external drive is larger:

• The software will allow cloning only the capacity actually in use of the source disk.
• This ensures you have an identical copy of everything stored.
• The remaining space on the destination disk will be empty and can be used later for new data, without affecting the existing copy.

Detecting possible errors early and having effective solutions allows us to optimize the process and ensure its correct result.

Updates and maintenance

Incremental vs differential:

• Incremental copy only duplicates files changed since the last copy. Save time and space.
• Differential copy includes changes since the initial full copy. It takes up more space but updates from a previous point.

Schedule recurring copies:

• From the software we can schedule automatic copies from time to time, such as weekly or biweekly.
• This allows you to have an updated backup automatically without having to remember manually.
• An incremental copy will be made in each scheduled copy, which optimizes time and resources.
• In case of failure of the original disk, our backup information will be as up-to-date as possible.

By making scheduled incremental copies we simply and efficiently maintain a backup copy that is always protected with the latest changes. This provides a comprehensive solution for backup maintenance.

Conclusion

Process summary:

• Connect external hard drives to the computer.
• Install and open the selected disk copying software.
• Select the source and destination disk for the copy.
• Start the content duplication process.
• Verify that the copy was made correctly.

Other backup tips:

• Store a copy outside the home to protect against theft or disaster.
• Use the cloud or other remote locations for backup.
• Perform periodic tests by restoring files from the copy.
• Encrypt sensitive data before storing backup copies.
• Periodically update backup software.
• Have backup copies of both the disks and the information in the cloud.

In summary, this article explains in a practical and detailed way how to successfully duplicate the contents of one external hard drive to another in a simple and safe way.