Re: Creating a PC and a laptop image out to a external drive

I started looking to do something similar recently. I put together my own portable drive from a case and a 300MB 2.5" drive and made two partitions on it. I connect it via the USB port to my XP PC or my Vista laptop. (Cost about $80 from our local CompUSA.)

I downloaded the free version of Macrium Reflect and used it to do a complete backup of both machines. I don't have a boatload of data and so a backup wasn't too time consuming. The backup file is compressed, but Macrium Reflect can "mount" it and you can treat it just like any other drive.

It also allows you to create a Recovery CD from which you can restore your system. So far I haven't had the courage to try such a restore.

So I really haven't had a whole lot of experience with this, but I do have image backups of two systems on the one external drive and it looks promising.

Sam

On 1/18/2011 2:48 PM, Peter_Vidal@xxxxxxxx wrote:

Hi list!

I want to do an exact image of my PC and also my laptop, out to an
external harddrive. The PC is Windows XP and the laptop is Windows 7. Can
I have both images on the same external drive? I would think is dangerous
in case the external drive crashes, but I want to make the question
anyway. Second, which software alternative you recommend?

Thank you,


PETER VIDAL