I wish i couls tell you that I had found an answer.
I have been trying since my first message.
today i tried the external drive on another computer. still no luck.
Dell people tried and we got no where.
contacted my software manufacturer- Acronis true image and there first instruction was to hit F11 to get into boot menu. that took me a half hour to figure out it was wrong, i am on a dell running xp 2. i needed F11. it then said i would get a linux kernel settings prompt. well that never happened.
I am not a happy camper.
the lightening season is starting. I wanted to have a full backup Before the hurricane season which stats June 1.
If you get an answer please let me know.
Paula

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic