difference between mac clone and mac disk image

The entire cloned disk is now a copy of the original hard drive. Though the cloned drive will only have the data that was on the original when it was cloned, it’s still a good backup solution for saving computer data.Ĭloning a disk takes less time than creating an image. The clone can also be saved in storage for future use, should a new computer need that hard drive or the original fail. Once disk cloning is complete, the newly created drive can be installed on a computer immediately, and that computer will have the same patches, operating system, applications, and files as the original drive. This means that disk clones can only be made one at a time.

Data from the original hard drive is copied directly to the next disk.

While a disk image is a compressed file that holds all data from a hard drive, a disk clone is another disk that is identical to the original. Many disk backup software programs have options for both disk cloning and disk imaging, but the two are different. Difference between Disk Imaging and Disk Cloning If a disk image is stored in a file system, such as NAS, and that is destroyed, the image on a local desktop or in Amazon’s cloud service will still be available.Įnterprises that need to store multiple hard copies of computer data can store disk images in different locations for additional data protection. Storing multiple disk images in different locations, both physical and virtual, provides better protection for the computer data. If the current hard drive is compromised by malware or a virus, users can replace it with another disk image. Imaging allows a computer user to return to a previous version of the hard drive, including all applications and files stored on it at that time. Disk Imaging for Data Backup and Recovery Installing a disk image on a hard drive typically requires a specific platform for copying images onto disks. This makes disk images a helpful tool for businesses that want to quickly set up new computers with the same software and programs. Because it saves every detail of the previous hard drive, including current operating system, applications, and documents, computer users do not have to reset every aspect of the new computer. Disk imaging allows individuals and businesses to recover all data that was on a computer when the image was made.ĭisk imaging bypasses the configuration stage of setting up a computer. That file can be stored on other devices, in a file system, or in the cloud. Disk imaging is a form of hard drive backup that places all of a hard drive’s data into a compressed file.

Difference between mac clone and mac disk image