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[6 Ways] Acronis True Image Stuck on Source Disk
You can easily fix Acronis True Image stuck on source disk error in 6 simple and effective methods. If not, the best alternative to Acronis True Image is also included.
By Ivy Updated on July 1, 2025
Acronis True Image Stuck on Source Disk
Acronis True Image stuck after choosing the source disk for over an hour. I can’t tell if it’s still running or not, should I just wait it out? I’m on Windows 10 64 bit i7 processor. I clicked to generate a system report but that appears to be hanging as well.
If you're using Acronis True Image to clone a disk, and the software gets stuck on the source disk, it can be frustrating. This means you can’t copy data from one disk to another and the clone goes nowhere.
- Question from Reddit
You may want to fix it now, don't worry, and we will talk about it later. Before then, it is necessary to know the basics of Acronis disk cloning. From the Acronis software cloning fails page and disk clone guide, we pick the key point for cloning:
- It requires creating an Acronis bootable media for cloning so that all internal and external drives can be detected. This avoids potential issues with theWindows bootloader configurationand creates the Linux kernel recovery environment on a Windows-based cloning process.
- Bad sectors on the source or destination disk can cause cloning to get stuck when reading or copying data.
- You can’t clone an encrypted disk unless it’s decrypted first.
- You can’t clone a dynamic disk with Acronis.
- Don’t boot into Windows with both drives, which may confuse Windows and potentially corrupt it.
- Acronis requires the source disk and destination disk to match sector sizes, e.g., 512 sectors to 512 sectors.
- Avoid cloning a disk with Windows to external USB drives, as it might not be bootable. Use an internal SSD or HDD instead.
In addition, Acronis True Image also gets stuck if the source disk is nearly full, or the destination drive doesn’t have enough space to hold all the data. So please be sure to follow these points when cloning a disk with Acronis True Image.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Acronis True Image Stuck on Source Disk
If Acronis True Image is stuck on the source disk, you can follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue. This guide helps identify the root cause and fix the problem so that you can continue the cloning process smoothly.
Method 1: Check Disk for Errors
Windows comes with a disk checking tool to scan for bad sectors, corrupted system files, etc. that may cause the cloning process to stall and repair them automatically. To scan and check your disk:
Step 1. In File Explorer, right-click the source drive to scan and check for disk errors and select Properties.
Step 2. Switch to the Tools tab and click Check under Error checking. Then, click OK and Apply to keep this change.
Step 3. Then, click Scan Drive or Repair Now to continue, depending on whether it finds any errors.
Alternatively, you can open cmd and run it as an administrator. Then, type chkdsk /f /r and press Enter to check disk for errors and repair.
Method 2: Free Up Disk to Get Enough Space
If Acronis True Image is freezing because there isn’t enough space on the source or destination disk, freeing up space could solve the issue. You can choose to delete unnecessary files or move them to another drive to make room for the cloning process. Or directly replace the target drive with a larger drive.
Method 3: Use Acronis Bootable Media for Cloning
Acronis Bootable Media allows you to boot your computer from a USB or CD/DVD, which bypasses the operating system and any potential software conflicts. Try it if this issue persists!
Step 1. Create an Acronis bootable media on another working computer.
Open Acronis True Image and navigate to Tools > Rescue Media Builder.
Select Simple or Advanced creation method, depending on whether you want to adjust bootable media.
Select USB flash drive, CD, DVD, ISO image file, etc., as destinations and click Proceed > Restart.
Step 2. Insert the bootable media into the computer you want to clone. Restart it to change the boot priority in BIOS and boot from the USB or CD/DVD.
Step 3. Once Acronis True Image loads, go to Tools > Clone Disk to start the cloning process.
Method 4: Directly Install New Hard Drive in Your Computer
If you connect the new hard drive using an adapter or enclosure with a USB port, it may be the cause behind Acronis True Image stuck on source disk. Please switch the old drive with the new one and install it internally for cloning.
Step 1. Unscrew the screws on both sides of the disk. Slide the drive bays in the holes for screws on both sides of the recent drive. For SSDs, use the specific mounting slots to install the screws for 3.5-inch drives.
Step 2. Remove the desktop computer case, unlock it if it’s secured with screws, and slide the new drive in.
Step 3. Connect the new drive to the motherboard using a SATA cable and plug in the power cord. At last, close the computer case and restart the computer to continue cloning the disk.
Method 5: Disable the Secure Boot
If you are cloning a WD disk with Acronis and stuck on the source disk, it’s suggested to disable the Secure Boot option in BIOS and try again. The Acronis computer restart is required.
Step 1. After the computer restarts, press the prompted key (e.g., Delete, F2, F12, etc) to access BIOS.
Step 2. Locate the Secure Boot option in BIOS, usually under Security or Boot.
Step 3. Disable Secure Boot and press F10 to save changes and exit BIOS.
Method 6: Update or Reinstall Acronis True Image
Sometimes, Acronis True Image can get stuck because of bugs or outdated software. It’s essential to keep the software up to date to avoid compatibility issues or glitches causingprogram to freeze.
Step 1. Open Acronis True Image. Then, go to Help and select Check for Updates.
Step 2. Download and install the latest version of Acronis True Image.
Step 3. If no updates are available or if the problem persists, try reinstalling Acronis True Image and cloning the disk again.
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 within Windows or from bootable media.
AOMEI Cloner- Clone HDDs/SSDs and MBR/GPT disks with secure boot.
- Intelligent clone only the used sectors of a drive and skip bad sectors.
- Automatically resize the partition size of a larger destination disk.
- Align SSD with 4k technology to improve SSD disk performance and its lifespan significantly.
- 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.
100% SecureStep 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 about cloned drive won’t boot due to not enough space.
Download AOMEI Cloner for easy cloning!
Tips for Smooth Disk Cloning with Acronis True Image
To avoid running into issues like Acronis True Image getting stuck on the source disk, you need to maintain the disk health and follow the best practices for cloning.
- Regularly check the health of your disks to make sure there are no bad sectors.
- Defragment disks to organize data, especially HDDs.
- Schedule backups of your data in case something goes wrong.
- Make sure that there is enough space on the destination disk to hold all the data on the source disk.
- Keep Acronis True Image up-to-date to avoid bugs and software glitches.
- If you have multiple disks, clone them one by one, as this helps your computer handle the process more easily.
Conclusion
Various reasons can cause the Acronis True Image stuck on source disk error, and it’s not difficult to resolve it completely. Be sure to check the Acronis software cloning fails page and disk clone guide, which includes the possible causes behind this error.
In addition, you can choose to use Acronis True Image alternative - AOMEI Cloner for cloning. It offers multiple features, e.g., Intelligent clone, Edit Partitions, SSD Alignment, etc., to handle the cloning process well.
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