This is sort of a physical electrical isolation or "ground loop"
sort of question. The actual "software" part(s) are a piece of cake...

I want to Image a hard drive that is in a different computer case
than the "destination drive".
The Image program would be running  on(from) the "destination
computer" and write to a drive with compatible file system for what
I am doing.

I would prefer to NOT have to physically remove the hard drive
from the original computer case.
I do not want to use networking, or other types of slow ports.
I know how to set up drives and get them running under different
conditions (or locations). (As in: No DDO or LBA problems...)

I am wondering if I can connect a hard drive data cable from
one motherboard (on my main machine), to a hard drive
physically mounted in another computer case.
Seems like a no-brainer until I get to the part about providing power.

I'm assuming it would be better to also run the power over, and
keep the imaged machine off....
Any draw backs to allowing the original case supply the power?

I am trying to do fast safe back-ups of fairly large hard drives in
under an hour. (Sometimes off-site.)

All comments or suggestions welcome, on or off list.

                              Rick Glazier

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