Backing up Win 7 Pro and Win 7 Home Premium to same USB drive, make bootable?

[IronWing]

I have a Win 7 Home Premium desktop and a Win 7 Professional laptop. I'd like to use a single USB external drive to make system backups for both computers. I know that part should work with Windows Backup without issue.

If I want to make the drive bootable, should I use the Professional or Home Premium machine to move the system over? Does it matter? Would the drive be able to boot as a recovery drive for either system?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If I wanted to back up, I'd just store images of the Home Premium and Professional system partitions on the external. If disaster strikes, restore those images as necessary. Restoration is typically a 20 or 30 minute job.

I'd probably use Macrium or some similar imaging application.

Rather than trying to deal with running Windows 7 through a USB connection on an external drive. I think it's doable, but an easily avoidable headache.