I'm going to share what I use. CLONEZILLA. With that free bootable CD I can backup to a folder on an external drive and since it's in that folder I can backup as many machines or copies fit on the external drive.
Without details I doubt anyone can diagnose this broken pipe.
Bob
For what it's worth, I clone my hard drives so in the event of a catastrophe, large or small, I can extract the data I need or just swap drives.
One computer stalls returning this error, and none of my (many) fixer upper programs has a clue.
Online forums are either WAY over my head, (I'm capable but gimme a break techies) or link me to plumbers with leaky basements.
Do I wipe my C drive clean and start fresh or can this thing be fixed? I imagine any Image I have of the drive will just reintroduce the same error.

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic