Best way to clone a disk?

Thanks @guru.

>The best way to clone a disk is .... DO NOT.
Forums right across the internet are filled with posts from users who experience bad happenings with cloning. On the other hand, there is a distinct fewer number of posts from users who have successfully used the alternative ... image then restore. A coupla steps more, a few minutes more, but the odds are distinctly in favour of this method rather than cloning.d>

Which Is why I asked here before doing it. For some reason cloning seems easier, but I accept the opinion of those more knowledgeable than I.

sgeneris said:
What is the simplest/safest way to replicate old C: D: E: on the new disk that will boot using FREE available tools?

<The "latest" (i.e. last) version of Macrium is still available from majorgeeks web site. When imaging, I always go to "tin foil hat" mode and for insurance, do a Macrium image and an AOMEI Backupper (freeware version) image.
And don't forget to create the boot restore USBs for both Macrium and AOMEI for your new device. A little bit extra work and preparation, but less tears.>

Actually I have used Macrium free for years with great success and it saved my derriere multiple times. I am still using it now, would have loved to continue with it and I possibly could, but everything is changing fast and I don't need any surprises. My getting the 2nd laptop and they terminating the free tell me it's it's time to bite the bullet and progress-- I have opted for Halseo--if you know of any reason to avoid it, lemme know. In fact, based on my look into it, I may not need Aomei-- Halseo seems to be doing everything.

<EDIT As a precaution, I would download the network driver separately, just in case the Windows default driver is not detected when you (re)connect the target device to the internet, When that happens, Windows will usually auto update changed/new drivers, but only if the internet is available, hence the need to have the networking (wifi and/or LAN) drivers.>

Of course, I already downloaded it.
But MS is not allowed to touch any of my computers. I installed Win10 1511 and I stick with it -- I had NO ISSUES whatsoever since then relative to all the messes that MS got all those who allowed them to update their computers. I always strived--and mostly succeeded--to find non-MS free alternatives and that has worked well too.

<Once the image is restored, you may like to remove the old non-functioning drivers from the previous device
Control Panel > Device Manager > View menu > Show hidden devices
Expand eaxh hardware category (using the '>' indicator
"Dead" hardware drivers will be the ones greyed out > right click each individually > Uninstall device. Also accept any extra installation that might be offered for a device.>

Good idea, thanx. But I do not think it'll be necessary--I restore the backup image over the Win10 copy of the old computer which will have only my installed drivers (xcpt wireless)--which is why I got an identical laptop model.

The only question I have is can I reduce the size of the primary partition and add an extended partition and add 2 logical drives in it with DISKMGMT ***from within Windows***, or do I have to use Halseo/other third party to do that? Either way, I think this will get me a clone without cloning --just backup and restore.

Thoughts?

You are so overthinking things.
1. No need to change from Macrium Reflect Free - it will last until Windows makes some change that is incompatible with it. People still use V6 and V7 with no issues.

2) Use of logical drives is a hangover fom old days. Far better to use UEFI and proper primary partitions.

I would just clone old drive to new drive but exclude logical partitions.

Then convert new drive to gpt using mbr2gpt.

Finally create 2 primary partitions and copy data from logical partitions on old drive.

Logical drives go back to times when you couldn't create primary drives very outdated now you will still get drive letters with primary