Will Hard Drive Data be overwritten during backup?

Question

This should be a simple question. I'll try to make it come out that way.

I'm currently using a 40GB external HDD in an enclosure to back up my important files and folders. This drive is nearly full with my backed up data. I backed up my files and folders with simple copy and paste since I didn't have any backup software at the time. This HDD connects to my computer via a USB port.

Now I have a backup software called Acronis True Image (ATI) 9.0. I'm now ready to do a complete backup of everything including my operating system.

My question is this. If I now use ATI to backup my computer, will it go ahead and overwrite everything that's already on my external HDD?

Remember, my 40GB HDD already has 25+GB of my files, pictures, and folders on it that I copied and pasted there a couple of months ago and a complete backup of my computer is going to need at least that much space.

Hope to hear from someone on this. It's too hot outside to do anything.

Answer 1

It definitely should not overwrite any data already on the disk. It is also true that nearly all backup software will compress the data before writing to the backup media.

So while it would seem that you don't have enough space left on your ext. disk, you might actually have enough. But I think you are too close to the capacity limit of your ext. disk.

You could try to step thru the first few menus of your backup software without actually starting the backup to see what it tells you. If it tells you that the backup will barely fit, then don't do it. The size estimates are estimates only and are not exactly predictable (without massive computation).

Answer 2

It won't overwrite your drive, though you may not have enough free space to back it up. If so, you'll get an error message.

Answer 3

No it won't but if there isn't enough space it will let you know