Windows 7: Does Windows 7 Backup Compress Media files?

Does windows 7 backup compress media files? I was just wondering, because I would like to keep the integrity and quality of my SLR photos Hi-bitrate music files that I backup. When I was using Acronis True Image, it gave me the option to remove compression for backups.

If it compresses it is the same lossless compression applied to all files. When the file is restored it is exactly the same as before bit for bit. Same is true for True Image Home. There is not much reason to turn off compression except that it uses CPU resources.

Similar to a zip file.

Nope, it doesn't compress. Or if it does, it doesn't show. Everything you backup is restored bit for bit, as it was in the beginning. I had this worry when backing up some movies in Blu-Ray format, but the clarity is intact. Backup without fear!

Actually, you are incorrect. Windows backup does compress your files into a lossless zip format for the data (non-image portion) of your backup. For the image format it uses VHD files. I am not sure if the VHD is compressed or not, but I expect they are.

Anyhow the main point is that any backups software's compression algorithm is lossless, so what you get back on a restore is a bit for bit exact copy of the original - there is no reason not to use compression in backup except that it uses CPU resources and may take longer to backup on older CPUs.

+1 for GeneO.

Thanks for clearing this up for me, guys. I really appreciate it.