[SOLVED] SATA A/B

[HBinswanger]

For weekly clones of my internal SATA drive, I use a neat little Startech standalone cloning device. I plug the backup SATA drive into the device's Destination port and remove my internal SATA drive and plug it into the Source port. This works fine but I want to minimize the plugging and unplugging of the Source drive (I do want to get the backup drive out of the computer entirely).

The simplest way would be an A/B switch, like we used to use for switching an RS232-C serial cable between two devices. Then I'd attach the SATA drive to the input port, the motherboard to the A output port and plug in temporarily the backup drive to the B port.

Maybe there's a better way. But the first problem is that I can't find any such switch. I can't even find a Y-splitter cable for the data part of the power-data package that SATA uses.

Any ideas?

 

[SkyNetRising]

If you want to avoid plugging/re-plugging, then you can get same cloning results with software (without using any standalone cloning devices).
Macrium Reflect can do that for you.

 

[kanewolf]

For weekly clones of my internal SATA drive, I use a neat little Startech standalone cloning device. I plug the backup SATA drive into the device's Destination port and remove my internal SATA drive and plug it into the Source port. This works fine but I want to minimize the plugging and unplugging of the Source drive (I do want to get the backup drive out of the computer entirely).

The simplest way would be an A/B switch, like we used to use for switching an RS232-C serial cable between two devices. Then I'd attach the SATA drive to the input port, the motherboard to the A output port and plug in temporarily the backup drive to the B port.

Maybe there's a better way. But the first problem is that I can't find any such switch. I can't even find a Y-splitter cable for the data part of the power-data package that SATA uses.

Any ideas?

To create "offline" backups, I use an external USB3 drive and when done copying to it, I eject it and then power it off.

 

[HBinswanger]

To create "offline" backups, I use an external USB3 drive and when done copying to it, I eject it and then power it off.

I'm seeking a full, bootable clone, not just a backup. In the event of problems (software or hardware) I want to be able to remove my hard drive, swap in the clone (made before the problem arose, if it's a software problem), and just boot up and go.

 

[HBinswanger]

If you want to avoid plugging/re-plugging, then you can get same cloning results with software (without using any standalone cloning devices).
Macrium Reflect can do that for you.

I started trying Macrium, but found its interface too difficult. So you are saying that if I put in the required learning time, I'll be able to get a full, bootable clone without removing anything? Would I have to boot from some external drive to do the cloning? Thanks for your help.

 

[HBinswanger]

I think the answer is in software. I'm using, successfully, Paragon Hard Disk Manager.