New WD external drive not being read on XP

Thank you both!
This program sounds great. If I just place the .exe file on a blank disk and change my HP to boot from disk, should I be fine? Or the program has to be installed?...

You would need to:

1. Downlaod and install the program on your second computer. Then run it.
2. Select the Create Bootable Media (or similiar title). This walks you through a wizard which when all done creates a file on your second computer with file extension .iso
3. .iso (EYE'-so) files can be burned to a CD with any burning software. Whether you have your own burner or take a copy of the .iso file to a friend and burn it
4. Insert the CD into your HP and power up to boot from CD. Select the option for Full Version when prompted (you need full version for it to detect USB hard drives)
5. Can provide you the step-by-step for backup later but should give you the idea to get started

Excuse the double post but one thing i forgot to mention in Acronis instructions above....

Your USB hard drive is currently empty and unformatted correct? You should format it as NTFS partition using Disk Management on your second computer. I'm not sure if Acronis True Image will recognize it as a USB disk if you don't format it first.

Actually I did format/partition the new WD drive on this 2nd PC and have begun using it!

I am on Step 2 of your instructions for Acronis, just looking for the option now

Great!

On Acronis, usually on main menu i think but if not look under Tools menu as well

And USB hard drive formatted NTFS? (vs. FAT) just to be sure

Found it! It's just "processing"
And Yes! It is NTFS

It's ready!!
But oh boy, dont hate me! I knew about ISO from time, but never felt comfortable enough and always said "I'll learn later, I'll do it this way..." so I guess now is that time! Do you know the quickest/best/easiest way to [teach me to] burn an ISO image to a CD? :$

^ Oh - my ISO saved as a file for NTI CD & DVD Maker as that is what I have installed on this computer....I only have DVD-ROM, but have a CD-R/RW drive. Thanks!

^ I thought I'd have to download extra software - but maybe not.
I chose Data Disk, clicked the option "Bootable CD" and dragged the iso file to be burned.
I'll go ahead and try it!

haha.. i have nti cd/DVD maker as well (version: platinum 7.7.0.1100 if need compare)

On my version you click Copy. Then for source select Image Reader

Now click to Step 2. When it prompts for file change the file type pull down to iso.

Ahh OK! I'll try that! Thank you!!
LOL...mine is Platinum Version 7.0.0.2201, considering not using this comp for over 2yrs lol

btw.. general advise for all usb drives connected to your computers.

When the drive is connected:

Start->run, enter devmgmt.msc to open Device Manager (just another method to open it)

Under Disk Drives, select the USB drive, rt click Properties. Click Policies and check Optimize for quick removal.

Your drive won't perform quite as fast but this will greatly reduce the odds of accidentally corrupting the drive in future if your system crashes or the drive is ever disconnected abruptly

Wow! I see Acronis on my HP! It has life again lol
My options are:
"Acronis True Image Home (Full Version)"
and
"Windows"

I choose the 1st? And I should have my new WD external drive plugged back into the HP PC?

yes. is it connected to HP already? as not sure when acronis does device detection but you want Full Version. Then you click backup to start the wizard and see bacup options . if by chance USB disk not there you may need shut down and restart w/devcie already connected at power up

Ok I'll just connect it then and reboot...then choose Full Version
Thank you!

Update: On my Boot Menu, I now see the WD external drive! I never did before!

Im at backup options. I am so happy and excited! lol.
Is there a big difference between "My Computer" and "My Data"
I know with the 2nd you can choose manually, but what happens if you pick "My Computer" and what does it include/exclude?

btw.. you're ahead of me as don't specific instructions and don't have actually have same version here as you.. but download User Guide

see Chapter 5.3.1 to select and backup My Computer. Remember to only select HP harddrive/partitions for backup (not USB itself) and click sector-by-sector

refer back here in a few minutes for add'l info for wizard

/** EDIT 1 **/
Waiting for my other computer to reboot….. in the meantime and Btw.. normally to do full backup you could just select my computer, select the hp hard drive and NOT select sector-by-sector as this would then back up all files/folders/etc but not unused disk space and a couple system things not neededd. HOWEVER, for your case now, who knows what’s corrupted and if might need to recover some currently unused disk space is it is best to do sector-by-sector tho will take longer to run.

And another btw.. never disconnect usb drive unless 1) computer has shut down or 2) you use the safely remove hardware icon and first STOP the device. If it says can’t stop it now you must first shutdown. You otherwise risk corruption.

I am at the end of the options for the Backup Wizard, but will not press Proceed yet.
I chose sector-by sector, and my backup file is set to save to Drive G: (my WD external drive!)

The summary of what is to be performed is as follows:

# of Operations: 2
1. Creating Partition Image:
Hard Disk: 2
Drive Letter: C:
File System: NTFS
Volume Label: HP_PAVILION
Size: 272GB

2. Saving Partition Structure:
Hard Disk: 2

and no other info....(??)