This option is often found in disk imaging programs, which is not surprising, because it is similar to what is required to create disk images, but on a smaller scale.īoot disk option is the creating of a device to boot a disk image. An important function when a user has to take care of security of just some parts/folders/files, but not the whole disk. Cloning creates an exact functional copy, so it can be replaced and used as the main one if something happens to the original version.įile backup is used to make restoration possible.

Disk cloning is the process of cloning all the data on disk, and the output file will be the same size as the initial one. Although it might seem similar to creating a disk image, there are certain differences. During it, one large file (usually compressed) is produced, which is later used for recovery process.

For basic understanding, disk imaging is the process of creating an exact copy of a disk for its backup recovery. Note, that the speed of process and the size of output files are important. Key featuresĭisk imaging is the key function of course. For such emergency cases, we can use disk imaging software that will allow to restore data, with all the settings and programs preserved, with minimal data loss or even without it. Also, most imaging programs allow creating media storages, that later can be used to extract, unpack, restore a backup, even if the computer does not boot from its own disk. Many viruses can destroy or damage your system, which can lead to its failure or complete collapse. With uprise of virus and hacking technologies, and overall broadening of PC functionality, security issues have become even more relevant. With the help of this option, users can safely install an exact copy of the system on another computer or hard disk, in case of unpredicted failure - be it a virus attack, system crash, or some external problem. In its initial idea, this process involves creating an exact copy of the disk, with all installed programs and settings, and then storing it in a special compressed format. This is a type of software tools that allow users to create an image of the hard drive or the whole system - as a backup option, or to clone it.

What is mac disk image