Hard drive crash! - PhotoCamel

rshunk · 10-11-2009

My hard drive crashed the other day and it looked pretty hopeless in getting my files back. Using the system disk that came with my computer I managed to screw up and reinstall Windows on my corrupt hard drive! When I booted up - NOTHING was there - it was like a brand-new-out-of-the-box-first-time-turned-it-on computer.

I called in a professional "guru" at $89/hr. to try to help - no luck - he got nowhere and my files were still gone! Feeling frustrated and having nothing left to lose, I downloaded a program from www.getdata.com called "Recover My Files" (v4 Standard) and ran it.

I managed to recover about 85-90% of all my data!!

Being a happy customer - I had to tell everyone!!

Best $69.99 I ever spent!

Bob S.

ohenry · 10-11-2009

And the question of backups rears its ugly head again. I not only b/u my files on another drive, I use Mozy.com ... I can highly recommend using Mozy (or Carbonite, which my wife uses).

Gna · 10-11-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by rshunk

My hard drive crashed the other day and it looked pretty hopeless in getting my files back. Using the system disk that came with my computer I managed to screw up and reinstall Windows on my corrupt hard drive! When I booted up - NOTHING was there - it was like a brand-new-out-of-the-box-first-time-turned-it-on computer.

I called in a professional "guru" at $89/hr. to try to help - no luck - he got nowhere and my files were still gone! Feeling frustrated and having nothing left to lose, I downloaded a program from www.getdata.com called "Recover My Files" (v4 Standard) and ran it.

I managed to recover about 85-90% of all my data!!

Being a happy customer - I had to tell everyone!!

Best $69.99 I ever spent!

Some 'guru'!
Congrats, Bob.
Now go get an external HD, and make backups!

rshunk · 10-11-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gna

Some 'guru'!
Congrats, Bob.
Now go get an external HD, and make backups!

The "guru" charged $89/hr. and didn't get any further than I did in determining that the HDD was toast! There wasn't the slightest hint (that I saw) that there was a problem. Now power surge/outage, no slowdowns - nothing. I turned off the computer one night and it wouldn't come on the next morning.

I do have an external HDD - 2 of them actually. Unfortunately, the only files I ever really backed up were my photos. I don't know what I was thinking, but my other files never really entered my mind - until they were gone!

Now I have a new computer and a new respect for doing complete backups! Lesson learned!

Bob S.

Gna · 10-11-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohenry

And the question of backups rears its ugly head again. I not only b/u my files on another drive, I use Mozy.com ... I can highly recommend using Mozy (or Carbonite, which my wife uses).

I hope those are better than this scarily familiar one.

ohenry · 10-12-2009

which is why I use redundancy.

Dirk · 10-12-2009

i backup almost every week on a third harddrive and on a secondairy harddrive and the most important files on to different brands of dvd

Gna · 10-12-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk

the most important files on to different brands of dvd

As long as you are aware that burnt DVDs become unreadable after 5 to 10 years max. by osmosis, Dirk! I.o.w.: DVDs are not for long-term storage, but for medium-term storage only. I re-burn DVDs every 3 years.

pop · 10-16-2009

There are only two types of hard drives
1 those that are dying
2 those that are dead
ohenry has it spot on!

10-11-2009	#1 (permalink)
rshunk Guanaco Location: Central Ohio Posts: 434 CamelKarma: 668 Editing OK?: Ask first Gallery \| Blog	Hard drive crash! My hard drive crashed the other day and it looked pretty hopeless in getting my files back. Using the system disk that came with my computer I managed to screw up and reinstall Windows on my corrupt hard drive! When I booted up - NOTHING was there - it was like a brand-new-out-of-the-box-first-time-turned-it-on computer. I called in a professional "guru" at $89/hr. to try to help - no luck - he got nowhere and my files were still gone! Feeling frustrated and having nothing left to lose, I downloaded a program from www.getdata.com called "Recover My Files" (v4 Standard) and ran it. I managed to recover about 85-90% of all my data!! Being a happy customer - I had to tell everyone!! Best $69.99 I ever spent! Bob S. __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member on PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Forum, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.
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10-11-2009	#2 (permalink)
ohenry Photocamel Master Location: Medford OR Posts: 5,755 CamelKarma: 3947 Editing OK?: No Gallery \| Blog	Re: Hard drive crash! And the question of backups rears its ugly head again. I not only b/u my files on another drive, I use Mozy.com ... I can highly recommend using Mozy (or Carbonite, which my wife uses).
	__________________ "Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

10-12-2009	#6 (permalink)
ohenry Photocamel Master Location: Medford OR Posts: 5,755 CamelKarma: 3947 Editing OK?: No Gallery \| Blog	Re: Hard drive crash! which is why I use redundancy.
	__________________ "Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

10-12-2009	#7 (permalink)
Dirk Bactrian Location: the netherlands , Gelderland Posts: 1,845 CamelKarma: 875 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Re: Hard drive crash! i backup almost every week on a third harddrive and on a secondairy harddrive and the most important files on to different brands of dvd
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10-16-2009	#9 (permalink)
pop Vicuna Location: Sydney,Australia Posts: 196 CamelKarma: 410 Editing OK?: Ask first Gallery \| Blog	Re: Hard drive crash! There are only two types of hard drives 1 those that are dying 2 those that are dead ohenry has it spot on! __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member on PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Forum, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.
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