Solved Macrium Reflect images from different computers


mackie

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I have two computers (A and B). Whenever I create an image for each one, I use a usb dock and have two separate dedicated hdd’s, one for only A images and one for only B images. Instead of the two hdds, can I put the images from both computers A and B on just a single hdd?
 

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Windows 11/Linux MintIntel Core 2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00 GHz x 28 GBIntel 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Co...
OS
Windows 11/Linux Mint
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell Optiplex 960
CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00 GHz x 2
Memory
8 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller
Monitor(s) Displays
HP x22LED
Hard Drives
Crucial 250 GB SSD, HD 1Tb
I have two computers (A and B). Whenever I create an image for each one, I use a usb dock and have two separate dedicated hdd’s, one for only A images and one for only B images. Instead of the two hdds, can I put the images from both computers A and B on just a single hdd?


Yes you can, assuming at least one image of each computer is a full image.
Maybe partition one of the drives into two partitions.
Another option is to just "name" the backups differently. Like JAN 30a and JAN 30b.


I have tons of different images on one partition.
Those that start with 19045 are Windows 10. Those that start with 22621 are Windows 11.
I name my backups like this... Date, Windows version, any notes. The main difference, being the date/version.

Image1.png


If you want to get rid of those huge ImageID numbers...

Disable Macrium ImageID numbers...

Open the Registry editor (regedit.exe), and...
Go here: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\macrium\reflect\Settings
And set: PrefixWithUniqueSetID ...to "0" (zero)
 

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    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦26200.8655 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦25H2AMD Ryzen 7 3700XG.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
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    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦26200.8655 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦25H2
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I have two computers .... can I put the images from both computers A and B on just a single hdd?
I have 12 computers, and all their images can just fit onto one 2TB usb HDD.

When setting up where to save a Macrium image you can choose any path you like, which can include folders and subfolders. If the folder doesn't exist, Macrium will create it for you. Each of my machines saves its images to its own subfolder with the computer name (so I don't loose track of which is which).

1675210806249.png
 

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    Windows 11 HomeAMD Athlon Silver 3050U8GBRadeon Graphics
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    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
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    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23-R9VY
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    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
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    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2, and 25H2 on 30th September 2025 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 25H2.

    UPDATE - 11 April 2026: due to mechanical deterioration this PC has been retired from active duty. The OS with all software and files has been migrated to my System Seven in 'Other systems' to carry on as my general purpose 'main machine'.
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    Windows 11 ProIntel® Core™ i5-520M8GB(integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
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    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround.

    In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround.
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    Also running Insider Dev, and Canary builds and Windows 10 as native boot .vhdx.
  • My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 1TB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Hyper-V host machine. Updated to 25H2 on 30th September 2025.

    My SYSTEM SEVEN is a Lenovo Thinkpad T580, Intel Core i7-8650U, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2nd 512GB NVMe SSD, a supported device for Windows 11. This is my current general purpose 'main machine'. The installed Windows 11 Home from my System One has been migrated to this machine.
I have only one suggestion to add to what has been said. It will cut down on any possible confusion if you will do 2 things.
1. Assign the external drive a persistant drive letter.
  1. Press Windows + X keys and click on Disk Management.
  2. Right click on the external drive and click on Change Drive letter and paths.
  3. Click on Change the button.
  4. Under Assign the following Drive letter, select the desired drive letter.
  5. Click Ok to save changes.
2. Make 2 folders on the external drive named Computer A and Computer B. When you backup each computer for the first time, point the backup to the external drive and the computer's corresponding folder.
From then on Macrium on each computer should remember the destination drive and the correct folder.
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8655i9-10900 10 core 20 threads32 gbnone-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8655
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
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    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
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    Benq 27
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    2560x1440
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    2x1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+2tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
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    MT
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    Dell Premium
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    Logitech wired
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    Logitech wireless
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    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
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    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
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    Defender+MWB Premium
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    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.8457AMD Ryzen 7 6800U32 gbintegrated
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.8457
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
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    integrated
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    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.8457
Ghat, Bree and glasskuter,

Thanks for your responses and suggestions. It’s kinda like you were reading my mind about what some of my follow-up questions were going to be. I’ve got a 2TB hdd that I’ll be tinkering with tomorrow. Thanks again.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11/Linux MintIntel Core 2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00 GHz x 28 GBIntel 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Co...
OS
Windows 11/Linux Mint
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell Optiplex 960
CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00 GHz x 2
Memory
8 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller
Monitor(s) Displays
HP x22LED
Hard Drives
Crucial 250 GB SSD, HD 1Tb
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