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OSFClone
Sydney, Australia
What it is
OSFClone is a free disk imaging utility that boots from removable media and creates or clones disk images without depending on the installed operating system. It supports raw images as well as AFF, EWF, and dc3dd formats. Its maker says images retain unused sectors, slack space, file fragmentation, and undeleted file records. The utility can compare a clone with its source using MD5 or SHA1 hashes, compress images, and attach forensic metadata such as case and evidence numbers, examiner name, description, and checksum. The product page describes cloning FAT, NTFS, and USB-connected drives. OSFClone can start from CD/DVD or a USB flash drive; the listed current download is a 373 MB ZIP, and USB installation needs a drive of at least 2 GB. Some UEFI systems may not boot it, for which the maker suggests changing boot mode to CSM. For ext2/3/4 evidence drives connected during startup, filesystem superblock values may change; the maker recommends a write blocker or connecting the drive after boot. OSFClone is licensed under GPL v3.0.
For and against
For
- Creates images independently of the installed operating system.
- Supports raw, AFF, EWF, and dc3dd formats.
- Can compare source and clone using MD5 or SHA1.
- Supports image compression and forensic metadata.
- Available under GPL v3.0.
Against
- May fail to boot on some UEFI systems.
- Ext2/3/4 superblock values may change if drives are connected during startup.
- USB installation requires a drive of at least 2 GB.
The verdict
OSFClone provides disk imaging, hash comparison, compression, and metadata features in a free, self-booting utility. Users handling evidence should account for the listed startup and UEFI cautions.
Who it suits
OSFClone suits users who need to create or clone disk images and record forensic metadata. It may also suit users who need hash comparisons or images in several supported formats.
Plans and prices
OSFClone
Free self-booting disk imaging utility · current version v1.4.1000 · USB installation requires a drive of at least 2 GB
Read 4 Oct 2026 · osforensics.com
On the record
- Boot limitation
- OSFClone may fail to boot on some UEFI systems; the maker suggests switching the system boot mode to CSM.osforensics.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Boot media
- OSFClone can boot from CD/DVD or USB flash drives; the listed current download is a 373 MB ZIP for version 1.4.1000.osforensics.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Compatible drive types
- The product page describes cloning FAT, NTFS, and USB-connected drives.osforensics.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Compression and metadata
- It offers image compression and can save case number, evidence number, examiner name, description, and checksum as forensic metadata.osforensics.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Disk imaging
- OSFClone creates or clones exact raw disk images independently of the installed operating system.osforensics.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Hash verification
- OSFClone can compare MD5 or SHA1 hashes of a clone and its source drive.osforensics.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Image formats
- It supports raw images and imaging to AFF, EWF, and dc3dd formats.osforensics.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Integrity caveat
- The maker warns that hardware, driver, and disk-state variations can cause a small chance of evidence contamination and recommends using a write blocker when integrity is critical.osforensics.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Known filesystem issue
- The maker reports that imaging ext2/3/4 drives may alter filesystem superblock values if the evidence drive is connected during startup, and recommends a write blocker or hot-plugging after boot.osforensics.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- The maker states that OSFClone software is licensed under GPL v3.0.osforensics.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Maker headquarters
- PassMark Software Pty Ltd lists its Australian head office at Level 5, 63 Foveaux St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia.osforensics.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Preserved data
- The maker says images preserve unused sectors, slack space, file fragmentation, and undeleted file records.osforensics.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Related tools
- The maker says created images can be mounted with PassMark OSFMount and analyzed with PassMark OSForensics.osforensics.com · read 4 Oct 2026
