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Image copy to USB connected drive

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Being that I’m mindless when it comes to techno babble .......HELP

My requirement is to make image bootable copies of my laptop and desktop hard drives to the same external USB connected drive with 2 partitions (1 for the laptop, 1 for the desktop) using Acronis.

Reading several postings lends me to believe it can’t be done. At best I can create 2 boot disk and 2 separate image copy folders on the external drive, neither which will be bootable.

Is this correct?

thanks, Rob

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When you make an Image it has to go through the Recovery process before it becomes like the original - usually bootable. It will not be bootable as it is right off the usb drive.

You can save as many image files to the USB drive as will fit. It's usually best to keep separate image sets in sepatate folders. However, it's not required. For example, I keep my backup images in folders by computer with each folder holding the images of multiple partitions.

Even if you could "clone" to separate partitions on the USB drive, Windows would not boot successfully from them. It's not designed to be run from a USB drive. It's also (in my opinion) a waste of space since you could only have one "copy" of each partition.

You do not have to delete prior backups. Just create new folders and move the backup into the matching folder.

If you have not done so, check out "Chain2Gen" as a backup helper. You can find it in my signature index below. Also check out "DrvNotify" to help remind you when to attach the external drive. Both work very well together.

You could setup one (or more) scheduled task for the laptop and another for the desktop--both using Chain2Gen.

Thanks GroverH,
The problem I'm having with the 2 folders is when I try to do the second image copy TI wants to repartition the drive. I'm probably not using the correct utility.

thanks

Check out my signature index--particularly item 7A but many of first 10 (or more) could be helpful.

Thanks again, It does pay to read "ALL" of the instructions. Very nicely laid out and looks easy to follow. I will try tonight.
Thanks very much for your time.
Rob