BU problemretrospect sware

I have a question about Retrospect Express Software Version 6.5. Let me review my situation.

I have a Dell Dim 2400 Desktop and a Dell Inspiron 2200 laptop. Each has a 40 GB hard drive.

My goal has been to back up both systems. After screwing around with CDRW-software compatibility problems between the 2 computers, I purchased a WD USB Hard drive. It came with the above-mentioned software. It also came pre-formatted FAT 32.

OK, the first thing I did was reformat the drive to NTFS, one volume (120 GB). I then installed the s-ware on each computer.

I backed up the desktop. Great. Worked fine. I then went to B-U the laptop. But, what's this?? Help! It started by deleting the previous (desktop) back-up and then backed up the laptop.

OK, read the f-manual carefully, I say. I did. No indication that it would do this on the USB hard drive.

Now, I suspect I might be able to change the directory and B-U set name and "fool" the s-ware, but I don't want to screw around with that, especially if I need to restore things and then it doesn't recognize the name (I don't want to keep changing the folder names back and forth).

So, I called tech support. They were a bit... condescending. Apparently, the license only allows me to use the USB drive to B-U ONE computer. The s-ware apparently will recognize when I'm on a different computer and it will delete any other back-ups. Well, F-them. That ticks me off. I bought the 120 GB drive just so I could put both computers on there.

Is there a way around this??

Here is one thought: I intend to re-format the drive and create two parbreastions, E and F. I'm going to try and use the "E" parbreastion for the desktop and the "F" parbreastion for the laptop. I'll then specify separate destination drives (E and F) when I do the back-ups.

I'm going to try this. But, just wondering if any of you folks are familiar with this software and are in a similar situation. Any other ideas for workarounds?

Mel