Cloning HDD Using USB External HDD Connected to ThinkPad

[emtee3511]

I use Apricorn to clone backup HDD's for my ThinkPads and also use it to clone HDD's to SSD's to upgrade my ThinkPads. I want to clone the HDD from my son's T60, but he and is T60 are 2000 miles away from me and I'm hoping he won't have to pack up his machine and send it to me. What I want to do is have him send me his current HDD, and I will clone it to the SSD and then return both drives to him. The reason for cloning is because his SSD got a very bad virus/trojan/malware, and he doesn't know how to clean the drive himself. So he put his backup HDD in his T60 in place of the SSD I had cloned and given to him last year.

I know I can hook up his SSD to my T410i using an external HDD enclosure and format the SSD to get rid of the malware. My question is, can I then hook up his current HDD to my T410i in place of the now formatted SSD so I will have access to his original HDD on my computer -- and then hook up his formatted SSD in the manner I usually clone a drive by connecting it to my T410i using the Apricorn Cloning Connector -- allowing me to "see" (and clone) his current/good HDD to the now formatted SSD? Has anyone ever cloned a HDD using this type of setup or do you know if it is possible? I have previously only cloned drives installed in my ThinkPads to HDD's or SSD's attached to the Apricorn hardware connector.

[RealBlackStuff]

I clone this way:
- take out the HD, connect it to my Apricorn, which is connected to my desktop
- use Acronis TrueImage to take an image of that external HD/SDD
--- I don't bother with any (usually outdated) recovery partitions
- attach the new HD/SSD to the Apricorn without even bothering to pre-format it (but always make sure the new HD is initialized in Disk Management)
- use Acronis TrueImage to restore the image to that other external HD/SDD
- insert new HD/SSD in the recipient laptop
- done

[emtee3511]

THANK YOU RBS! for the quick reply --

I have never used Acronis before, but your method sounds like what I need -- do I just download the software from maybe CNET download.com -- After I have Acronis on my machine, do I just open it and follow prompts (similar to opening and following prompts with Apricorn?)

[RealBlackStuff]

They have a 30-day trial you can download.
It's easy enough, however they just published the newest version (2012) with a different interface from what I have (2010).
If you do this sort of stuff more often, buy it.
Currently for a limited time TI 2012 Home is a Newegg special for $9.99 after $15.- MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 0030-L019C