iBoysoft DiskGeeker Online Help
- Disk Clone

Overview of Disk Clone

The Clone function in iBoysoft DiskGeeker is used to copy everything on a disk (usually called the source disk) to another disk (called the target or destination drive) with fast and stable data transfer speed. It helps you make a quick disk backup for possible data restoration in the future.

Different from the built-in backup utility Time Machine in macOS. The Disk Clone feature not only supports backing up the entire startup disk, including the system files, settings, apps, etc. to an external destination drive.

It also enables to clone an external hard drive to another one as a backup to avoid data loss caused by disk corruption or damage.

More importantly, the Clone feature in iBoysoft DiskGeeker greatly shortens the backup time compared with Time Machine as it transfers data very fast. Besides, network drive doesn't support the disk clone.

How to clone a disk?

Preparations:

1. Make sure the target disk has a larger capacity than the source disk, or at least the same.

2. Make a backup of your target disk as the clone will overwrite the data on the target drive.

3. For macOS 12 Monterey, go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Full Disk Access to ensure the "drivermanagerd" program is checked.

Steps to clone a disk:

Step 1: Connect the disks you need to use to your Mac and launch iBoysoft DiskGeeker.

Step 2: Select the source disk (the entire disk you want to back up files from) at the left sidebar of the iBoysoft DiskGeeker window.

Step 3: Click "Clone" from the right toolbar.

Step 4: Choose a destination drive from the pop-up list and click startClone. A prompt will warn you that making a backup of the destination disk because cloning disk will overwrite all data on it. If you click OK, the clone starts.

The cloning process can't be terminated once it begins. If the process is terminated accidentally, the disk cloning will resume automatically when the two disks are connected to your Mac again.

FAQ about Disk Clone in iBoysoft DiskGeeker

1. Can I clone an external disk to the Mac startup disk?

No, you can't. By default, the disk clone will overwrite all data on the destination disk. But the startup disk contains the operating system and can't be overwritten. So, you can't take the Mac startup disk as the destination disk to clone an external disk to.

2. Can I stop the process when a disk clone begins?

No, you can't. Once the disk clone starts, it can't be terminated or paused halfway. If an accident happens like a sudden power outage of your Mac, the clone will resume automatically when the two disks are connected to your Mac again.

3. Why does the error message "Failed to open the source device" prompt?

Your Mac runs macOS 12 Monterey but you haven't checked in the "drivemanagerd" program in Security & Privacy. You can go to the Apple icon > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Full Disk Access to check drivemanagerd.

4. Why did the files on the target disk disappear after a disk clone?

Disk clone will overwrite all data on the destination disk. Usually, before a disk clone starts, a hint will warn you to back up the data on the target disk.