Question disk imaging VS disk cloning

[xilin_0]

Hi,
despite reading several posts and articles I still find two methods that achieve the same result unclear to me, could you please briefly explain the differences between them?
additionally, regarding my specific situation (https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/external-hard-drive-issue.3858377/post-23358942)
for a corrupted/failed external hard disk which method would be more effective?

If you know please also respond to this question, can either the software or ddrescue command in Linux be used while hard is corrupted or failed or has a partitions problem?
thanks

 

[USAFRet]

To create a copy of a potentially failed drive, you want a forensic clone, to some other drive.
Then, you work on that other drive.

As previously mentioned, HDDSuperClone would be a likely choice.

 

[Lafong]

Cloning: real time copy of an existing system to some other drive. "Everything" on the source drive is copied. All partitions. If successful, the drive receiving the clone is immediately bootable. Not typically thought of as a backup. More likely used to transfer a functioning system to another drive in a single step. Often to a larger or faster drive. Receiving drive is a replica of the source drive as of the moment the clone is initiated.

Imaging: creates a file representing certain partitions on the source drive. The user chooses which partitions. Typically all partitions, but not necessarily. The file is of little use until it is "restored"...at some indefinite point in the future. At which time, the drive to which it is restored is bootable IF the image file contains the necessary partitions. So, it is a 2 step process. Typically regarded as a "disaster recovery" tool used to get out of a jam, but can be used to simply move to another drive just like cloning. New system is as of the date and time the image file was created.

 

[USAFRet]

For a comparison of generic Cloning vs Imaging...

Cloning is for changing to a new drive right now.

Image is for a backup, to be retained for potential future use.

 

[xilin_0]

As previously mentioned, HDDSuperClone would be a likely choice.

I use it thank you really

 

[xilin_0]

Cloning is for changing to a new drive right now.

Image is for a backup, to be retained for potential future use.

To me, both of them have the same result and achievement 🙏