Don't worry it's the norm here...it's even worse when we get..."ooops we've run into some problems" while writing a post.
You have the right to complain and so you should...these problems are very annoying.
I'm using a 2TB External HDD Formatted to EXT4 and Timeshift set to include all files with snapshots installed and Mint Cinnamon 21.1 Live Session.
With the External HDD plugged in...Boot to the Live Session...open Timeshift click Finish...go to Settings...Location and select your External...
Just to add to what wizard said...Timeshift (snapshot)...Foxclone and Redorescue (Image) create an image of used space which includes the Boot partition and the used space on the Root partition as seen here using GParted.
The above is identicle to my Main Drive...the only difference is...
This post is coming from my WD SSD (spare) that I've just restored a snapshot...took 10 minutes (158GB) from clicking Restore and everything has been restored...much faster than I thought.
My mistake was to plug in the external HDD to the Desktop and select a snapshot and restore it as I've done in the past when Timeshift was running from the internal SSD but it won't Boot.
I should have used the Live Session which worked first go. As we know Timeshift backs up system files and...
Not long ago I started putting my Timeshift snapshots on a 2TB External HDD...I take a snapshot of all files on the Drive not just system files.
Yesterday I decided to restore a snapshot...of course I did this on my spare SSD not my main SSD because I'm not that stupid and just as well.
My...
Years ago I wanted information on a dog breed...I said I'll buy a book...couldn't find a book anywhere.
Rang bookshops I found in the phone book...none had any books on this breed...what a different story today...everything at my fingertips.