AOMEI Disc Cloner.

[computertechguy]

I have been using this tool it IS great as a freeware Disc Cloning tool. Now apparently they are no longer free you can download the freeware and no where it says it is limited BUT a pop up registration key window popups and wont allow you any further. I thought it may be just register it but no it is asking for a Key and there wasn't any email correspondence so it must be to get the key you need to purchase the upgrade.

So any way can anyone make any other freeware suggestions? I liked this one because it ran in windows with creating a boot disk.

Thanks guys..

 

[Porthos]

So any way can anyone make any other freeware suggestions?

As a technician, You should not be using freeware in your business unless it is allowed by the software maker for commercial use.
Always read the fine print.
I pay for my software I use.

 

[Porthos]

Free https://clonezilla.org/

 

[Mick]

However...Macrium Reflect (Free Edition) says it is free for both domestic and commercial use, although it's actual website is rather confusing on the subject because it also includes a 'technician' version. From what I can work out, looks as though you're not supposed to use the Free Edition on more than one machine, whether you do so commercially or otherwise. But I'm a CloneZilla man, myself...

 

[Porthos]

Macrium Reflect (Free Edition) says it is free for both domestic and commercial use, although it's actual website is rather confusing on the subject because it also includes a 'technician' version.

If you are using it in a support/repair environment, The 'technician' version is the only one you can use without breaking the EULA.

 

[computertechguy]

As a technician, You should not be using freeware in your business unless it is allowed by the software maker for commercial use.
Always read the fine print.
I pay for my software I use.

I am using it on my personal computer to move to a larger disk.

 

[computertechguy]

Free https://clonezilla.org/

I don't think clonezilla runs on the desktop it needs to run off a bootdisk doesn't it?

 

[DataMedics]

So any way can anyone make any other freeware suggestions?

GNU ddrescue or HDDSuperclone. Both are free in Linux and work far better than AOMEI any day.

Or, if you insist on a Windows tool, HDDRawCopy is a simple tool. Just that it should only be used on drives with no known bad sectors, as is the case for all Windows tools.

 

[Porthos]

I am using it on my personal computer to move to a larger disk.

What are you using for clients? Cant you just use that.

 

[Mick]

I don't think clonezilla runs on the desktop it needs to run off a bootdisk doesn't it?

Yes, normally. Although there is a 'server' version which can run on a dedicated machine on a network but it is quite a fiddly procedure - and not what you need for the job you've described.

 

[computertechguy]

What are you using for clients? Cant you just use that.

I don't clone any clients.. Build fresh.

 

[Markverhyden]

Another vote for Clonezilla. Making the bootable USB stick is pretty simple. Easustodo has free stuff. But I'm always leery of free stuff, especially from China. Remember the saying - if you don't pay for it you are the product.

 

[SlickMinnow]

I too, am a little leery of free stuff from mainland China, Russia, Facebook and Google. That said, as I understand it, Taiwan is still a disputed Chinese territory. Seems that Taiwan does not particularly want to be part of China. I catch a bit of guff from other nerds sometimes for not being a fan of Lenovo (Bejing) and TPLink (Shenzhen) due to their company hq location. The products are technically just fine - good even - particularly at the common price points, but I don't trust the way most Chinese businesses are heavily influenced/controlled by their government. Disclaimer - I am 3rd generation US soldier and may have a rather biased viewpoint.

 

[computertechguy]

I have been using this tool it IS great as a freeware Disc Cloning tool. Now apparently they are no longer free you can download the freeware and no where it says it is limited BUT a pop up registration key window popups and wont allow you any further. I thought it may be just register it but no it is asking for a Key and there wasn't any email correspondence so it must be to get the key you need to purchase the upgrade.

So any way can anyone make any other freeware suggestions? I liked this one because it ran in windows with creating a boot disk.

Thanks guys..

No NOT true, why you are seeing that message has to do with the type of disk you have Dynamic or MBR. It doesn't work free with one of these. Change the disk to the opposite and it will work.