How to Use Acronis True Image 2020 for Multiple PCs with a Single External Hard Drive 'Solved'

Are you looking for an efficient way to back up multiple computers using just one USB external hard drive? Look no further! In this article, we'll guide you through the process of using Acroni's popular backup software, True Image 2021 (although these steps should also apply to earlier versions like 2019 and even older ones), on Windows 10 X64 machines.

Assumptions

Before diving in:

* You have a valid license for Acronis True Image 2020 that allows you to install it on up to five computers.

* All your PCs are running the same operating system, which is Windows 10 X64 in this case.

* Your external hard drive has enough free space (at least twice as much as all C: drives combined) and can be recognized by each PC.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Purchase Acronis True Image 2020

2. Download the software from official website or get it via optical media depending on your purchase method.

3. Install Acronis True Image 2020 on one of your five eligible PCs (we'll call this 'the primary PC').

4. Connect a USB external hard drive to either the primary PC's motherboard port or any available USB ports.

Setting Up Backup

1. Launch Acrones Management Console from Start > All Programs > Acronis True Image 2020.

2. Click on 'Create Boot Media' and follow instructions provided by wizard-like interface until completion process is finished successfully!

3. Once done, disconnect external hard drive from computer before proceeding further with next steps:

Configuring Backup Settings

1. Insert the created bootable USB stick into any other Windows machine you want to backup (we'll call this 'target PC').

2. Boot up target PC using newly inserted media instead of regular operating system.

3. Once Acronis True Image 2020's splash screen appears, select your language preferences and click Next.

Creating Backup Sets

1. In the main window, navigate through left-hand side panel until you see 'Backup' section header; double-click on it to expand further options available:

- Clicking '+' icon next to 'Full Disk' will reveal sub-items such as C:, D: etc... Select only those volumes whose data needs backing up (usually just the system drive, which is typically labeled as 'C:').

2. In 'Destination' field below selected backup set name dropdown listbox at bottom left corner of main window choose External Hard Drive -> select appropriate letter assigned to connected device during step 5 above.

3. Clicking 'Next >' will open new dialog box asking how often you'd like backups created - daily, weekly or monthly; select preferred frequency then click Finish button.

Recovery Process

In case one of your computers encounters a critical failure and you need to restore data from the external hard drive:

1. Insert the bootable USB stick into any working PC.

2. Boot up that machine using the USB device instead of its regular operating system.

3. Once Acronis True Image 2020's splash screen appears, select your language preferences and click Next.

Selecting Backup Set

In 'Acronis Recovery Environment' main window:

1. Navigate through left-hand side panel until you see 'Recovery Points' section header; double-click on it to expand further options available:

- Locate the most recent full backup created for each affected computer (this should be labeled with today's date and time).

2. Clicking '+' icon next to desired recovery point will reveal sub-items such as C:, D: etc... Select only those volumes whose data needs restoring back onto target PC.

Restoring Data

1. In 'Destination' field below selected backup set name dropdown listbox at bottom left corner of main window choose local drive letter where you want restored files/folders to be placed (e.g., E:\Restore).

2. Clicking 'Next >' will open new dialog box asking whether you're sure about overwriting existing data on target volume - make sure this is what you intend before proceeding!

Once the restore process completes, your PC should now boot up normally with all your files and settings restored from the external hard drive.

By following these simple steps outlined above, you can easily set up a single Acronis True Image 2020 backup solution that covers multiple Windows machines using just one USB external hard drive. This approach not only saves space on individual computers but also provides peace of mind in case disaster strikes - simply insert the bootable media into any working PC, select your desired recovery point from within Acrones Recovery Environment, and voila! All data will be back where it belongs without you having to worry about re-configuring everything manually.

Remember that while this article focuses specifically on Windows 10 X64 systems due to limitations imposed by reference material provided during initial request; similar processes should theoretically work across other supported operating platforms as well (please consult official documentation for more information regarding compatibility). Happy backing up!

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