(SOLVED) Acronis True Image Stuck at Less Than 1 Minute

You can easily fix Acronis True Image stuck at less than 1 minute error with 6 simple and effective methods, or try best Acronis True Image alternatives if they don't work.

By @Ivy
Last Updated July 1, 2025

Acronis True Image Stuck at Less Than 1 Minute Error

 

I’m trying to clone my 500 GB M.2 SSD to a 1 TB M.2 SSD using True Image for Western Digital, however it has been stuck on “Cloning Disk Estimated time left: less than one minute” for almost an hour now. The source drive in question is the WD_Black 500 GB SN750, and the target drive in question is the WD_Black 1 TB SN750. That being said, my question is, should I be worried about the cloning process taking this long and being stuck, or is this a normal occurrence?

- Question from Reddit

Acronis True Image is a popular tool for backing up and cloning disks, but sometimes users experience an issue where the software gets stuck at the “cloning disk estimated time left: less than 1 minute”. This can be frustrating because it stops the process before it’s complete, preventing you from backing up or cloning data.

This problem can happen for several reasons, including disk errors(e.g., bad sectors, damaged files), outdated drivers, software conflicts, insufficient system resources, etc. Don’t worry about it much, and we’ll show you several methods to fix it effectively.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting for Acronis True Image Stuck at Less Than 1 Minute

If you’re experiencing the "stuck at less than 1 minute" issue with Acronis True Image, follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve it effectively. Each method tackles a different potential cause, helping you get your cloning tasks back on track.

Method 1: Check the Cloning Log using MVP Assistant

Sometimes Acronis True Image hangs when cloning, with “cloning disk estimated time left: less than 1 minute” error, but the cloning process is complete. MVP Assistant from the Acronis forum can confirm this.

You can download MVP Assistant from it to check the cloning log and see if it’s completed. Then, replace old drive with new drive and boot from it. If not, please try other methods in the following.

Method 2: Cloning Disk using Acronis Bootable Media

Acronis True Image requires users to clone a disk with Acronis bootable media, as cloning a hard drive within Windows will interfere with the Windows bootloader configuration files and create the Linux kernel recovery environment.

Step 1. Open Acronis True Image and navigate to Tools > Rescue Media Builder.

Step 2. Select Simple or Advanced creation method, depending on whether you want to adjust bootable media.

Step 3. Select USB flash drive, CD, DVD, ISO image file, etc., as destinations and click Proceed > Restart.

Step 4. After creating Acronis bootable media, insert it into your computer and restart from it. You can press F2, F12, or Esc during startup to enter BIOS and set the boot sequence for the bootable USB or CD/DVD.

Step 5. After loading, go to Tools > Clone Disk to get started with the cloning process.

Method 3: Check and Repair Disk Health

One of the most common causes of the "Acronis True Image less than 1 minute" issue is disk errors, such as bad sectors or corruption. Try the chkdsk command to find and repair it!

Step 1. Press Win + R and type cmd in the Run dialogue. Then, press Enter to open the Command Prompt window.

Step 2. Type chkdsk X: /f/r and press Enter to scan and repair any found errors. Replace X with the drive letter of your source or destination disk.

Step 3. Once completed, restart your computer and try cloning disk Acronis True Image again.

Method 4: Disable Unnecessary Tools or Services

Antivirus software and other background software or processes can slow down or interfere with Acronis True Image.

To prevent conflicts, you can choose to temporarily turn off your antivirus program and check your system tray and Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) for any unnecessary background programs or services to ensure a smooth clone.

In the Task Manager, go to the Processes tab and look for anything you can close (e.g., web browsers or music apps). Then, restart your computer to clear temporary files and free up memory.

Method 5:Update Acronis True Image

Outdated software can cause issues with Acronis True Image, including freezing at the "less than 1 minute" mark. Please check if your software is up-to-date:

Step 1. Open Acronis True Image, go to the Help section, and click on Check for Updates.

Step 2. Then, download and install the latest version of Acronis True Image (If available).

Method 6: Update Disk Drivers

Outdated disk drivers can cause the “Acronis True Image stuck at less than 1 minute” issue. Please check if you haven’t updated disk drivers for a long time.

Step 1. Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.

Step 2. Under Disk drives, find your drive, right-click it, and select Update driver.

Try Acronis True Image Alternative to Cloning a Disk

AOMEI Cloner is a GUI-based, simple, and effective hard drive and SSD cloning software that can clone disks, systems, or specific partitions in Windows 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Servers without any obstacles. Optionally, you can choose to clone hard drive with bootable USB or CD/DVD.

AOMEI Cloner
Best Acronis True Image Alternative for Cloning 
  • Clone HDDs/SSDs and MBR/GPT disks with secure boot.
  • Intelligent clone only the used sectors of a drive, saving lots of time and space, as well as skipping bad sectors.
  • Automatically resize the partition size while cloning hard drive to larger drive.
  • Improve SSD disk performance and its lifespan with 4K technology. 
  • Compatible with different disk brands, e.g., Samsung, WD, SanDisk, Crucial, etc.
  • Create bootable USB drive, CD/DVD, or ISO file to clone hard drive without booting into Windows.

Step 1. Connect the new hard drive to your computer. Then, open AOMEI Cloner after installing and click Clone > Disk Clone.

Step 2. Select the two disks in the Source Disk and Destination Disk windows. Click Next after each selection.

Warning: The destination disk will be overwritten or deleted. Make sure to select the right disk and backup your data (if there is) in advance. Then, click OK to continue.

Step 3. Be sure to check SSD Alignment to align SSD for better performance. Optionally, click Edit Partitions to convert disk partition style while cloning MBR to GPT, or vice versa. At last, click Start Clone to get started.

This software also applies to clone hard drive with bad sectors, as the default intelligent clone option skips the bad sectors as well. You don’t need to worry that the cloned drive won’t boot due to not enough space.

Download AOMEI Cloner for easy cloning!

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Tips for Smooth Cloning with Acronis True Image

To ensure your cloning tasks with Acronis True Image go smoothly and without interruption, here are some essential tips to follow.

#1: Maintain Regular Disk Health Checks:

One of the best ways to avoid issues during the cloning process is by keeping your disk in good health. Regularly checking the health of both source and destination disks using chkdsk or the disk space will help you avoid potential issues before they cause problems. 

#2: Keep Your System and Acronis Updated

Keeping both your system and Acronis True Image software up-to-date, including bug fixes, security patches, and new features, is crucial for optimal performance. The disk driver also matters. These ensure your software is running efficiently and is compatible with your system. 

#3: Optimize Disk and Cloning Settings

Acronis True Image offers several settings to optimize cloning tasks. Adjusting these settings correctly can help improve the speed and reliability of your cloning processes:

  • Choose the Right Disk Format: Make sure the source and destination disks are using compatible formats (e.g., NTFS for Windows, APFS for macOS).
  • Align Partitions Properly: Proper partition alignment helps avoid performance issues and ensures efficient cloning, especially on SSDs.
  • Use the Right Cloning Mode: Acronis offers different cloning modes (e.g., automatic or manual). Choose the one that best suits your needs and hardware configuration.

Conclusion

To summarize, the "Acronis True Image stuck at less than 1 minute" issue can be caused by several factors, including disk errors, software conflicts, etc. You can fix it as described above. If your Acronis clone disk wizard is still stuck, the best way is to use an alternative software - AOMEI Cloner.

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Secure Download

For smoother cloning operations, regularly check your disk health, keep your software up-to-date, and optimize your settings. By taking these steps, you can avoid this problem and ensure your cloning tasks go smoothly.