Solved: Clonezilla Failed to Clone (3 Ways)

Why Does My Clonezilla Disk Cloning Keep Failing?

When upgrading to a new drive or backing up a system, many users turn to Clonezilla because it's free, powerful, and versatile. But sometimes, Clonezilla failed to clone can appear unexpectedly, which can be frustrating, especially when you’re in the middle of migrating data or setting up a new system.

 

But don't worry. Clonezilla failed to clone on Windows 11/10 usually doesn't happen without a reason. Most failures can be traced back to a few common causes. On this page, we will track the most common reasons and how to solve Clonezilla clone disk failure with some effective solutions.

• Target disk is smaller than the source - Clonezilla does a sector-by-sector clone by default. If you're trying to let Clonezilla clone larger disk to smaller disk, the process will fail with errors like “"Destination disk is too small," unless you use special parameters or shrink the source partitions beforehand.
• Bad sectors on the source disk - Corrupted or unreadable sectors can interrupt the process. Clonezilla may stop the cloning process instead of skipping them.
• Different partition table types - Mismatched partition styles (e.g., MBR vs. GPT) between disks can cause compatibility errors, like "Clonezilla failed to create partition table."
• Unsupported configurations -  Some dynamic volumes or encrypted drives may not clone correctly.
• User operation errors - Incorrect settings during the Clonezilla setup can easily trigger a clone failure message, especially since Clonezilla's interface isn't very intuitive.

Right Steps: How to Use Clonezilla to Clone a Hard Drive

Before diving into the steps of fixing Clonezilla failed to clone, you may check and learn how to use Clonezilla properly for disk cloning to avoid Clonezilla failed to clone:

Step 1. Visit the official Clonezilla website and download the ISO file. Use a tool like Rufus to create a bootable USB drive.

Step 2. Insert the bootable USB into your computer, then restart and enter the BIOS to set USB as the primary boot option.

Step 3. When the Clonezilla interface appears, select "device-device" > "Beginner mode" to clone from one disk directly to another. For most users, beginner mode is safer and simplifies the entire process.

Step 4. Select disk_to_local_disk and choose the source disk (the one you want to copy) and the target disk (the one to receive the data). Double-check to avoid overwriting the wrong drive.

Step 5. Follow the prompts carefully, confirm all selections, and start the cloning process. Depending on the size of your drive, it may take several minutes or hours.

Step 6. Once finished, remove the USB drive and restart the system. The new disk should boot if it is a system disk.

How to Resolve Clonezilla Failed to Clone - 3 Ways

Even with proper setup, errors can occur. Fortunately, there are several effective methods to fix Clonezilla failed to clone partition/disk, Clonezilla clone not booting, and other errors.

Method 1. Turn to Clonezilla Alternative for Disk Cloning - Error-Free

While Clonezilla is robust, it isn't always beginner-friendly. A simpler and more reliable way is to use an alternative tool that easily handles common errors. One of the best options is AOMEI Cloner, which offers a clean interface and powerful disk cloning features. This tool provides a streamlined cloning experience compared to Clonezilla, making disk cloning fast, accurate, and error-free.

You can install and run the best Clonezilla alternative, AOMEI Cloner, on your computer, and go to Clone > Disk Clone to transfer your hard drive to another disk with no boot errors.

Method 2. Check the Target Disk Size

One of the most common causes of Clonezilla failed to clone is a size mismatch. By default, Clonezilla requires the target disk to be equal to or larger than the source. Even if only 100GB of data is used on a 500GB disk, Clonezilla may still refuse to copy it to a 256GB SSD because it replicates all sectors, including unused ones. To fix this:

• Shrink the source partition in Windows Disk Management to fit the target disk size.
• Boot Clonezilla and try again.
• Alternatively, use AOMEI Cloner, which automatically adjusts partitions to fit smaller drives without manual resizing, allowing you to clone 1TB HDD to 500GB SSD or clone 500GB HDD to 250GB SSD.

Method 3. Remove Bad Sectors on the Source Disk

If Clonezilla stops midway or shows read errors, bad sectors on the source drive are the likely culprit. You can fix them using built-in Windows tools before retrying the clone.

Step 1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and run as Administrator.

Step 2. Type chkdsk C: /f /r /x (Replace C: with your source drive letter), and press Enter, and let Windows scan and repair bad sectors.

Step 3. Once done, try cloning again.

FAQs about Clonezilla Cloning

#1. Can Clonezilla clone Windows 10?

Yes, Clonezilla can clone Windows 10 partitions or disks. However, you must ensure the drive structure (MBR or GPT) matches, and the cloned disk must be repaired to make it bootable afterward. Tools like AOMEI Cloner make this process seamless and ensure your cloned disk boots right away.

#2. Can Clonezilla clone to a smaller drive?

By default, no. Clonezilla requires the target disk to be equal to or larger than the source. To clone to a smaller drive, you’d need to manually shrink the partitions first or switch to AOMEI Cloner, which supports intelligent cloning to smaller disks automatically.

#3. Ddrescue vs Clonezilla, what is the difference?

• Ddrescue is primarily a data recovery tool designed to copy data from damaged drives while skipping unreadable sectors.
• Clonezilla, on the other hand, is a disk imaging and cloning utility for creating full backups or migrations.

If you're dealing with severe bad sectors, Ddrescue may handle recovery better. But for standard cloning, Clonezilla is faster and more convenient.

Conclusion

When Clonezilla failed to clone, it's usually due to disk size mismatches, bad sectors, or partition table inconsistencies. While Clonezilla is powerful, it requires careful setup to use correctly.

But Disk cloning doesn't need to be complicated or frustrating. With a reliable method and proper preparation, you can migrate your data or system quickly and safely. You can switch to a more beginner-friendly solution, AOMEI Cloner, which provides you with an intuitive, stress-free cloning experience.