Backup 3 Computers To One External Hdd

[ThaiLife]

Ive just started to use Acronis True Image Home 2009, to backup my ASUS N10J Netbook running windows xp, to a new external HDD, and the backup only takes up a small amount of disk space , and a lot of space is not used. I also have Two other laptop computers both running Windows XP, and wondered if its possible to use the same external HDD to also backup them as well, so the One external HDD would have ( 3 ) clone backups on it, - is it possible - is it advisable , if so what would be the best way to do it , Thanks

[JetsetBkk]

I use Acronis True Image Home too (but an old version) and I make system image backups to an external USB HDD.

My "Backups" disk is normally unplugged from the USB port because that port is normally connected to another USB disk. I only connect it when I want to do a backup of my internal disk (C: & D:).

So, if your external disk is connected to a USB port, I would think you just have to plug it into each PC in turn to do the system backups since that is, in effect, what I do.

[ThaiLife]

I use Acronis True Image Home too (but an old version) and I make system image backups to an external USB HDD.

My "Backups" disk is normally unplugged from the USB port because that port is normally connected to another USB disk. I only connect it when I want to do a backup of my internal disk (C: & D:).

So, if your external disk is connected to a USB port, I would think you just have to plug it into each PC in turn to do the system backups since that is, in effect, what I do.

Hi, thanks for the reply, my external HDD is a USB type, the thing I was wondering was , if I have ( 3)

backup clone files of ( 3 ) different computers, would each backup have to be to a different partition ?

If not would that mean if the ( 3 ) separate clone backup's were on the same partition , when the USB HDD was plugged into each different computer, I would only have to manually select the clone backup for the computer the USB was plugged into ?

[ignis]

I have a Sata 200GB external HDD, I made 3 partitions, and back up PC and 2 laptops, each computer on its own partition. I use HDClone, PC is Vista and laptops are XP Pro

I am not 100% sure on the laptops, from my PC both laptops show with all the programs...... I wanted to be sure on my PC so unplugged my OS hard drive and tried to open Vista via the external HDD but could not ?? I took the external HDD out of the case and connected direct to the PC power and Sata cable and no problems

[ThaiLife]

I have a Sata 200GB external HDD, I made 3 partitions, and back up PC and 2 laptops, each computer on its own partition. I use HDClone, PC is Vista and laptops are XP Pro

I am not 100% sure on the laptops, from my PC both laptops show with all the programs...... I wanted to be sure on my PC so unplugged my OS hard drive and tried to open Vista via the external HDD but could not ?? I took the external HDD out of the case and connected direct to the PC power and Sata cable and no problems

Thanks , so making a separate partition for each computers backup, on the external HDD, may be the best way go . As ive already got ( 1 ) clone backup of my ASUS N10J Netbook on my new External HDD , That would now mean I haver to delete this clone backup file, and then make ( 3 ) new separate partitions, , then re clone the N10J, onto its new partition, then make a first clone on the ( 2 ) separate partitions for my other ( 2 ) laptops. Any advice on how to make ( 3 ) separate partitions on my new external HDD,

[ignis]

You have it in XP in tools

or just search 'free partition software'

I bought years ago 'Partition Magic' and it gets updated all the time, but there is lots of free ones.

Edit: Or go here and see what you like http://www.sofotex.com/download/PC_Utilities/Disk_Tools/

Edited May 12, 2009 by ignis

[nikster]

I don't know True Image, but any normal backup program lets you choose where you store the backup files. I know Ghost works this way, just put the backup in any folder. So having 3 is absolutely no problem, you don't need 3 partitions.

[ignis]

I don't know True Image, but any normal backup program lets you choose where you store the backup files. I know Ghost works this way, just put the backup in any folder. So having 3 is absolutely no problem, you don't need 3 partitions.

Yes this is true, myself prefer to have in different partitions so I do not make an error, would hate to overwrite a folder when backing up, when I plug this HDD in it clearly shows 3 discs.. 'My PC' disc 1 - 'Sony' disc 2 - 'Acer' disc 3

[JetsetBkk]

Thanks , so making a separate partition for each computers backup, on the external HDD, may be the best way go . ...

I would say it is not necessary at all.

My current system images are called XPa.tib, XPb.tib, XPc.tib, XPd.tib, XPe.tib. 4 of them are stored on one drive and the other one is on a small partition on another drive. No particular reason for that - I just had the space available so stored an image there.

All you have to do is make sure you give the image files a name that means something, eg. Dell.tib, Acer.tib, HP.tib, etc. . I presume your version of Acronis also calls them ".tib" files.

So when you are asked where you want to store the image, just browse to the external disk and give the image file an appropriate name.

[ThaiLife]

Thanks Guy's , Acronis True Image does make them .tib files, with Acronis True Image you can make a Bootable CD , If I make One Bootable CD, I am assuming that it will work on all my ( 3 ) laptops , which I am going to make separate clone images and store to (3 ) diffrent named files on my External USB HDD. - So I assume it will work like this ..

1. I have a problem with my laptop and want to put it all back to before the problem , I open the Acronic application and use the restore option , using the stored clone image on my external HDD, the problem image will then be overwritten by Acronis using the clones stored .tib file.

2. I have a peoblem with my laptop but it will not boot into the normal OS, I then use the Acronis Bootable CD, which will run the Acronic application allowing me then to do the same as above in 1.

3. I can check if the Acronis Bootable CD works by testing it out , by temporally changing the Bootup priority, to first boot from the CD , then I should see the working Acronis application.

Question .. Is there any way to run the saved .tib file , just to check out that in fact the cloned image I made is in fact going to work when needed , it would be a bugger if when needed I find out that in fact the backup file that was made and stored on my external HDD does for some reason not work ?

Thanks

[JetsetBkk]

My comments in red, ThaiLife:

Thanks Guy's , Acronis True Image does make them .tib files, with Acronis True Image you can make a Bootable CD , If I make One Bootable CD, I am assuming that it will work on all my ( 3 ) laptops , which I am going to make separate clone images and store to (3 ) diffrent named files on my External USB HDD. Correct - the Bootable CD will work on all 3 computers, i.e. you don't need to install the application on them all. You could try making a bootable flash drive in case your CD or CD drive goes a bit dicky. I made 4 copies and they all seemed to stop booting after several months. Cheap CDs was the problem, I think.

- So I assume it will work like this ..

1. I have a problem with my laptop and want to put it all back to before the problem , I open the Acronic application and use the restore option , using the stored clone image on my external HDD, the problem image will then be overwritten by Acronis using the clones stored .tib file. Once you have the bootable CD(s), you don't need the Acronis application installed on your computer provided all you want to do is make images. So you can boot from the CD to make the images. I do it that way so I know I'm using the same software to make and restore the images. I know what's installed should be identical to what's on the bootable CD... but....

2. I have a peoblem with my laptop but it will not boot into the normal OS, I then use the Acronis Bootable CD, which will run the Acronic application allowing me then to do the same as above in 1.

3. I can check if the Acronis Bootable CD works by testing it out , by temporally changing the Bootup priority, to first boot from the CD , then I should see the working Acronis application. Be careful here. I had a major problem doing just that. Have a look here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Norton-Ghost...t&p=2230653 I think if you only boot the CD, wait for the application to appear and then exit it, you shouldn't have any problems.

Question .. Is there any way to run the saved .tib file , just to check out that in fact the cloned image I made is in fact going to work when needed , it would be a bugger if when needed I find out that in fact the backup file that was made and stored on my external HDD does for some reason not work ? You can't run it, but you can validate it or browse it. I always validate immediately after creating the image. For browsing you do need Acronis installed and after running the installed version you click on "Operations" and then "Mount Image" and follow the prompts. The partitions in your image are allocated new drive letters so you can use Explorer to view or copy what's there. This is very useful for retrieving the odd file or folder that you may have lost.

Thanks

Good luck!

Edited May 13, 2009 by JetsetBkk

[ThaiLife]

My comments in red, ThaiLife:

Thanks Guy's , Acronis True Image does make them .tib files, with Acronis True Image you can make a Bootable CD , If I make One Bootable CD, I am assuming that it will work on all my ( 3 ) laptops , which I am going to make separate clone images and store to (3 ) diffrent named files on my External USB HDD. Correct - the Bootable CD will work on all 3 computers, i.e. you don't need to install the application on them all. You could try making a bootable flash drive in case your CD or CD drive goes a bit dicky. I made 4 copies and they all seemed to stop booting after several months. Cheap CDs was the problem, I think.

- So I assume it will work like this ..

1. I have a problem with my laptop and want to put it all back to before the problem , I open the Acronic application and use the restore option , using the stored clone image on my external HDD, the problem image will then be overwritten by Acronis using the clones stored .tib file. Once you have the bootable CD(s), you don't need the Acronis application installed on your computer provided all you want to do is make images. So you can boot from the CD to make the images. I do it that way so I know I'm using the same software to make and restore the images. I know what's installed should be identical to what's on the bootable CD... but....

2. I have a peoblem with my laptop but it will not boot into the normal OS, I then use the Acronis Bootable CD, which will run the Acronic application allowing me then to do the same as above in 1.

3. I can check if the Acronis Bootable CD works by testing it out , by temporally changing the Bootup priority, to first boot from the CD , then I should see the working Acronis application. Be careful here. I had a major problem doing just that. Have a look here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Norton-Ghost...t&p=2230653 I think if you only boot the CD, wait for the application to appear and then exit it, you shouldn't have any problems.

Question .. Is there any way to run the saved .tib file , just to check out that in fact the cloned image I made is in fact going to work when needed , it would be a bugger if when needed I find out that in fact the backup file that was made and stored on my external HDD does for some reason not work ? You can't run it, but you can validate it or browse it. I always validate immediately after creating the image. For browsing you do need Acronis installed and after running the installed version you click on "Operations" and then "Mount Image" and follow the prompts. The partitions in your image are allocated new drive letters so you can use Explorer to view or copy what's there. This is very useful for retrieving the odd file or folder that you may have lost.

Thanks

Good luck!

Hi, and thanks for the detailed info, its appreciated , this is the part below ,I was really getting confused with, I had it in my mind that the computer that I was going to use the Bootable CD on, had to in the past have had the Acronis true Image application installed on it

Correct - the Bootable CD will work on all 3 computers, i.e. you don't need to install the application on them all. You could try making a bootable flash drive in case your CD or CD drive goes a bit dicky. I made 4 copies and they all seemed to stop booting after several months. Cheap CDs was the problem, I think.

Thanks again