Computer Crash

[dkippen]

Well -------

Today has been a waste of a day - major computer problem and to make a long story short, had to basically reformat the hard drive and now trying to restore what's been lost. Thought my backup program had been backing up my "stuff" and lo and behold it wasn't. I think I lost most of the pictures taken over the last couple of weeks, including clost to 100 from this last weekend on the N. Shore. (Expletive, Expletive, Expletive, Expletive, Expletive, Expletive, .......).

Wish me luck.:(:(:(

[gjtoth]

Well -------

Today has been a waste of a day - major computer problem and to make a long story short, had to basically reformat the hard drive and now trying to restore what's been lost. Thought my backup program had been backing up my "stuff" and lo and behold it wasn't. I think I lost most of the pictures taken over the last couple of weeks, including clost to 100 from this last weekend on the N. Shore. (Expletive, Expletive, Expletive, Expletive, Expletive, Expletive, .......).

Wish me luck.:(:(:(

G'luck, Debbie. I just got done restoring a friend's computer after his system crashed. Aaaaaaand, NO backup. He lost it all. Financial stuff, photos, geneology stuff, important letters, the works. This after I had warned him after the FIRST TIME it happened to him!!

Could be worst... you could be running Windows. heh

[welmoed]

First thing tomorrow morning I'm hooking up my external drive and backing everything up. Then I'll borrow my husband's external DVD writer and back up to disks and ask my girlfriend to store them at her house.

So sorry this happened to you, but thanks for the "there but for the grace of God" reminder.

--Welmoed

[dkippen]

Gary - Ha Ha - yes I do run on Windows. Right now you're probably sitting there laughing hysterically and I really don't blame you.

Once a month, I do manually copy everything to an external drive and my financials automatically back up to this drive, so I do have some important stuff.

Funny thing - I had just talked about backing up my pix to DVD and storing in the fire-proof safe. My biggest "Aw - sh____" is the pictures I took in Chicago two weeks ago, the pix from the N. Shore this last weekend and Christmas pictures of my grandsons. Fortunately, I did have most of the Chicago pix on CD copied from a laptop. The N. Shore pix that I may have lost -well, it just gives me an excuse to go back - only in sunny conditions and well, the grandsons, that just gives me another reason to tell mom and dad that they need to come see Nana.

So - even with precautions, STUFF happens.

[gjtoth]

Gary - Ha Ha - yes I do run on Windows. Right now you're probably sitting there laughing hysterically and I really don't blame you.

Not a funny thing, Deb. I really do feel your pain. It's one of the big reasons I switched to Linux. Much more stable and waaaaay faster.


Once a month, I do manually copy everything to an external drive and my financials automatically back up to this drive, so I do have some important stuff.

Funny thing - I had just talked about backing up my pix to DVD and storing in the fire-proof safe. My biggest "Aw - sh____" is the pictures I took in Chicago two weeks ago, the pix from the N. Shore this last weekend and Christmas pictures of my grandsons. Fortunately, I did have most of the Chicago pix on CD copied from a laptop. The N. Shore pix that I may have lost -well, it just gives me an excuse to go back - only in sunny conditions and well, the grandsons, that just gives me another reason to tell mom and dad that they need to come see Nana.

So - even with precautions, STUFF happens.

Indeed it does. It often happens to very nice people, too. The jerks get off scot-free. Or, so it seems.

Hope ya didn't lose too much. Any loss of music or photos is sad though.

[dkippen]

I think I'm getting close to the end. So far, it appears only the pix from this last weekend are gone. I was able to download a "data recovery" program" that so far seems to work.

[gjtoth]

I think I'm getting close to the end. So far, it appears only the pix from this last weekend are gone. I was able to download a "data recovery" program" that so far seems to work.

G R E A T!! I think you've taught at least one person on here the importance of back-ups. They can sure save a LOT of heartache.

Glad your losses are minimal. http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k119/gjtoth/pooter.gif

[dkippen]

Well - The data recovery program is done. No pix of the N. Shore, unless I try the cards and it's getting too late for that. Time to hit the rack - 4:45 comes awful early.

Gary - yes, I do hope someone can learn from my experience. Even though I do a backup/copy, while not a regular basis, it just shows I should be more diligent. That's why in my travels today, I purchased another external drive just for the pix that can be automatically set up to backup. Just can't afford to lose any more pictures.

Have a great day!!! and New Year!!!!!!

[Snappers]

I have been in that situation before and it is not nice.
My problem now is learning to backup on a regular basis. Sometimes I remember and then other times I forget, and it is usually when I have been meaning to backup that the worst happens!

I have often thought of linux Gary but never really got into it or tried it for that matter. Is it easy to learn?

[gjtoth]

I have been in that situation before and it is not nice.
My problem now is learning to backup on a regular basis. Sometimes I remember and then other times I forget, and it is usually when I have been meaning to backup that the worst happens!

I have often thought of linux Gary but never really got into it or tried it for that matter. Is it easy to learn?

Andy, and for those wishing to give it a try, you can download and burn a live CD of quite a few of the Linux distributions. The advantage of a live CD is: you can run the entire operating system from the CD to check it out and see if you like it. You don't have to install it to your hard drive. Now, bear in mind, it will run MUCH slower that way since it is running from a CD but it WILL run. I use Ubuntu and have been for about 2 years now. It's free, as is MOST of the software that runs on Linux. It's virus-free -- you won't have to run a virus-checker/scanner, anti-spyware, anti-malware, anti-ANYTHING because that stuff just won't run on Linux. Therefore, your computer runs MUCH faster.
The support is marvelous, fast and free from the Ubuntu forums - often receiving a response within minutes. If, perchance, you happen to mess things up to the point that you can't boot (and that rarely happens if you play safely), just stick the live CD in and go online to the forum and get your answers. If there is a particular software in Windows that you absolutely cannot live without (for most here it would probably be Photoshop and Word), you can have BOTH operating systems on one computer (called, "dual boot") so, you can switch back to Windows when you need to. I would venture to say the MOST folks have started this way and found themselves using Windows less and less to the point of not using it altogether. The software that comes on the CD? -- a complete office suite (Open Office), Firefox web browser, you've heard me speak of Gimp image processing software, games, an Outlook equivalent called, "Evolution" (in my book better than Outlook)... ad infinitum.

But, don't take my word for it. Download the ISO, burn it to a CD (do it at the slowest possible speed), and check it out for yourself. They will even send you a FREE live CD if you request one. Read about Ubuntu at (where else?) http://www.ubuntu.com , then - be prepared to dump XP/Vista heheheheh :D

[Snappers]

Cheers Gary, I will have a look.