Will a computer Backup to an ext. HDD, delete any existing files & folders already on the ext. HDD?

[Elisecares]

nil.

[Riddle_Decipher]

@Elisecares

Welcome to HP Forums, 

This is a great place to get support, find answers and tips, 

Thank you for posting your query, I'll be more than glad to help you out 🙂 

As I understand you want to know about the tasks that could be performed on an external HDD using a computer,

Don't worry as I'll be glad to help, however, to provide an accurate resolution, I need a few more details: 

Is this the first time you are attempting to connect to an external HDD?

Are you having any issues in accomplishing the aforementioned tasks?

The reason I'm asking these questions is because the answer to your questions is YES, you should be able to delete the existing files and folders on the drive and copy the new one.

Here's a link with details on backing up on an external device: Click here for info.

Keep me posted for further assistance 😉

[Elisecares]

Riddle_Decipher, I appreciate your help and your prompt reply. I wasn't very clear when forming my question I'm sorry. So I have a large amount of important files already saved to my 2Tb external HDD which I don't want deleted or damaged. Now I'm concerned that if I do a computer back-up to this same external HDD it might format the drive, or delete the existing files already stored there.  That would be a disaster for me. So my question is, if I did make a computer back-up to this same external HDD, will the back-up process delete or affect the existing files (which I wish to keep) that are already stored on the external HDD.  Or is it safe for me to go ahead and make the back-up to this ext. HDD? Elisecares.

[Riddle_Decipher]

@Elisecares

Thank you for replying with this overwhelming and detailed response 😉

I appreciate your time and efforts,

It depends on the software you are using, so be cautious and make sure you've made necessary changes to the settings as some backup programs format the external drive and copy the data from the external source and some create a copy while leaving the existing files on the drive.

Ensure you select your preferences and then create the backup.

Keep me posted for further assistance 😉