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"Backing up a partition to itself" error message

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I have an external drive and when I want to perform a disc copy to it, I get, "It is not recommended to back up a partition to itself". What is the problem with that? I only have music, photos and other files on it. Help, please?

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Yes, you can go ahead. Remember that you will have no backup if your disk dies.
If your only way is to backup on the same disk, consider creating an Acronis Secure Zone. At least your backup files will be a bit more protected from malware.

But it wouldn't change the fundamental problem that if your disk dies, you don't have a backup.

No, I don't want to back up on the same disc, but my external disc. I want to copy the whole of C drive on my computer to external hard drive.

Eddie,
If Acronis True Image (ATI) is showing you this message, it means you have selected at least one partition to be backed up on the same disk.
Review your partition selections carefully.

If you want, you can create a screen shot of your disk selection (what to backup), and of the disk management console (search for create and format hard disk partitions in Vista and Win7), and post it here.

I'm getting the same message.
In my case I assume it's because I mapped my external disk to a path inside my partition that I want to back-up (and not a drive letter) .
Is this allowed by ATI?

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Choose the disk view and checkmark the disk to be included within the backup.

Then select the destination disk. Not sure of what the response will be if the external is mapped into the source.

In my case I assume it's because I mapped my external disk to a path inside my partition that I want to back-up (and not a drive letter) .
Is this allowed by ATI?

It's allowed anyway - 'ok' button is not disabled. The most probable purpose of this warning is to prevent backing up archives along with the main drive content and prevent data loss in case of drive failure if backups are located on the same physical volume. I'd rather say it's confused by mapping of the volume to the folder and gives false alert.