How do i know how much space is required for my backup

[aylwardm]

With Windows 7 I can't seem to figure out how much disk space i will need or tailor the selection for backup, I am using a HP utility...

 

[ksiemb]

With Windows 7 I can't seem to figure out how much disk space i will need or tailor the selection for backup, I am using a HP utility...

Backup APPS use varying degrees of compression for the Archive, so best I can suggest is it will be something less than the amount of disk space you are backing up. For example, 80GB drive, containing 21GB, might require like 13 to 15GB of space. Why do you need to know specifically how much space you will need ?

 

[Hawkeye22]

Some backup software will try to guesstimate how much backup space you need. I normally just assume that standard compression will get ~ 50% compression while maximum compression should yeild better than 50% and minimum compression will be less.

 

[aylwardm]

Backup APPS use varying degrees of compression for the Archive, so best I can suggest is it will be something less than the amount of disk space you are backing up. For example, 80GB drive, containing 21GB, might require like 13 to 15GB of space. Why do you need to know specifically how much space you will need ?

The main reason is that it wants to put the back up onto a DVD or CD and If it is bigger than one DVD or CD then I would like to know how many I will need to go through every couple of months just backing things up all the time...

 

[aylwardm]

I see know that eventually they tell me I will need 4 DVD's to make a Recovery set of discs.

Seems to be alot of Discs. I have two 1T drives each with about 80-100 GB used. The C has an original partion called Recovery...why would HP do that and then tell me I need disc sets too?

 

[mcnumpty23]

I see know that eventually they tell me I will need 4 DVD's to make a Recovery set of discs.

Seems to be alot of Discs. I have two 1T drives each with about 80-100 GB used. The C has an original partion called Recovery...why would HP do that and then tell me I need disc sets too?

in case your recovery partition gets corrupted or the hard drive fails completely

then you resort to the dvds you make

 

[aylwardm]

in case your recovery partition gets corrupted or the hard drive fails completely

then you resort to the dvds you make

Oh I see. Yes thanks!

 

[mesab66]

I'd recommend using an imager - e.g. Acronis or Ghost, and save the image to a protected partition/HDD(internal or preferably external) - I dunno if your HP utility works in this way (i.e. images the OS partition/HDD, I suspect not).

 

[aylwardm]

Best answer selected by aylwardm.