When one copies a movie from its original DVD, there is a slight loss in quality, but not that noticeable. When one copies the copy, the quality loss is very noticeable, and if one then copies that copy the end result is awful. Somewhere around 3rd generation, the DVD becomes worthless to anyone but a rabid collector. I got no idea if that is how backup copies of hard drives work. So I get my new Win 7 rig set up with all software installed. Do a bare-metal/clone copy to a spare hard drive, and store it safe. In three to four years the original hard drive in my rig goes into meltdown mode. I replace it with the copy. Can I then copy that copy, and repeat the process...in three to four years replace the copy with the copy? If it is like a DVD, then that will not work, as the copy of the copy would be degraded.....and the only option would be to make several copies of the original hard drive. Like I said, i have no idea about this stuff. I've never done a backup of a hard drive, which was my fatal mistake last time, but not one I will be repeating.