While we generally recommend dedicating a disk for each backup, you can use a single disk to maintain multiple backups.
There are two methods of cloning offered by Casper. Casper can be instructed to clone the entire contents of one hard disk to another hard disk, or clone a specific partition/volume to another partition/volume. When using the
method, Casper completely replaces the existing content of the destination device, master boot record, existing partition structure, etc. When using the
method, Casper clones only the file system format and content of one partition/volume to another, but does not otherwise modify or replace any existing partition structure on the destination device.
With this in mind, you can partition the backup drive into multiple partitions – one to maintain a backup of your computer’s system drive and another to maintain a backup of your second drive.
To set up the backup hard disk, use the
Copy an entire hard disk method to make the
initial copy of the system hard disk (e.g., Disk 1) onto the backup hard disk. When prompted by the Copy Drive Wizard to specify how the additional space on the hard disk is to be used, select the second option,
Leave the additional space unallocated.
Once this initial copy has been performed, use the
Copy a specific drive option to create the
initial backup of your second drive. When prompted by the Copy Drive Wizard, select the option to
Copy to a new drive and then select the backup hard disk as the destination. Select
Make the copy as large as possible or
Make the copy the same size as it is right now. You also should enter a descriptive volume label for the backup when prompted by the wizard to select a name for the new drive– e.g. “Secondary Drive Backup.” This will make it easier to identify the backup partition when updating it and/or restoring from it.
After these initial copies have been performed, you can use the
Create Drive option to create one or more additional partitions for “other data” if you have additional unallocated space on the backup hard disk.
At this point, you also might want to change the volume label associated with the drive letter assigned to the first backup on the backup hard disk. For example, you might consider renaming it "
System Backup." You can change the volume label of a drive by right-clicking on the drive in
[My] Computer and selecting
Rename.
To maintain the backup of your computer’s system drive, select the
Copy a specific drive method and then select your computer’s system drive (e.g., “
Local Disk (C:)”) as the source and the drive letter associated with the first backup (e.g., “
System Backup (E:)”) created on the backup hard disk as the destination. To schedule this backup to be performed automatically, select the option to
Schedule the copy for later when prompted by the Copy Drive Wizard. You also can setup a 1-Click Cloning shortcut to perform the backup on demand.
To maintain the backup of your computer’s second drive, select the
Copy a specific drive method and then select your computer’s second drive (e.g., “
Local Disk (D:)”) as the source and the drive letter associated with the second backup (e.g., “
Secondary Drive Backup (F:)”) created on the backup hard disk as the destination. To schedule this backup to be performed automatically, select the option to
Schedule the copy for later when prompted by the Copy Drive Wizard. You also can setup a 1-Click Cloning shortcut to perform this backup on demand.
By using the
Copy a specific drive method to maintain the backups, any data located in any other partitions on the backup hard disk will be left intact.
THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO:
- Windows 10
- Windows 8.x
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP
- Windows 2000