Comp. crash, lost ... - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Capt Weasel · 01-30-2007, 12:10 AM

it all ! Worst of all, I lost the pictures of everything I've cut. I posted them here but the resolution is shrunk down to the point that I can't get them back to print off for my "catalog". On top of that, I lost the master patterns for some stuff I downloaded and pics. of things I was going to make a pattern of too. I hope I can recover them some how, especially the pics. That hurts. I'm on a back up laptop without adequete security so I won't dally long. Hope to be back up soon and will check in periodically from work computer.

Minnesota scroller · 01-30-2007, 12:24 AM

That's gotta suck, big time. I'm genuinely sorry to hear that. I spent a little time today copying all my patterns onto a CD/RW. Last week I burned them to a CD/R and then remembered that when burned this way, you cannot save any changes. I also have all my patterns and photos on a USB flash drive. This gives me double protection. Normally, the flash drive would probably be sufficient, but I also have a WIN98 computer that the flash drive isn't compatible with and since that printer is connected to my laser printer, I like to be able to transfer them from PC to PC.

This should serve as a heads up to others out there. Back up to CD or other device. You just never know.

Once again Weasel, I'm sorry to hear about your crash.

MikeDingas · 01-30-2007, 12:25 AM

I feel your pain!! I wonder how many members are scrambling right now to backup their pics/patterns? I have a small wireless network connecting my laptop and two desktops. I generally work off the laptop in front of the TV and save my work to one desktop. Me thinks I'll create another shared folder on the other desktop for a third backup.

Capt Weasel · 01-30-2007, 04:26 AM

It is a very hard earned lesson. Even doubly so because just last week I'd thought about backing up my pics and stuff and figured I'd be all right, " I'll get to it soon". Well soon wasn't soon enough. I had to break out the ole lap top for this post. So if any of ya'll don't have ya' stuff backed up, do it first chance ya' get because it might be the last chance. If ya' have plenty of CD-RW discs lying around like I do then use them. Don't regret it like I did and my Dell is only 2 years old and not long out of warranty. I can buy a new hard drive but not an original pic. of that first piece.

01-30-2007, 05:31 AM

Wow, just read this and amazingly enough this morning I stopped off at Staples Store and bought a 1gig USB memory card for filing away patterns and pics. I finished taking them off the office computer and my home computer this after noon. WHEW!!!! (but I feel your pain)

BobD · 01-30-2007, 01:35 PM

We've got a rotating set of Terabyte drives here and we backup every day...and the only thing to back up a terabyte drive is another terabyte drive...

Bob

Greenfield_Bob · 01-30-2007, 02:59 PM

All my pictures are on CD's, plus I use Picture Trail, it's only $20 a year.

Bob

Dragon · 01-30-2007, 02:59 PM

I have two drives on my computer and the second one is for storage only. Not a partition but a physical real second drive. If my computer crashes the data and pictures are on the second drive.
I also burn regularly on cd and put those away.
Diane

Minnesota scroller · 01-30-2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenfield_Bob

All my pictures are on CD's, plus I use Picture Trail, it's only $20 a year.

Bob

That is another excellent idea. All my completed projects are uploaded to Photobucket.com. So far, it hasn't cost me anything. I believe you are allowed so much space before you start paying. This is also where I direct all my potential customers so they can see my work. There are quite a few photo hosting services out there. When I eventually use up all my free space with this one, I'll start using Flickr. I've used that one for posting photos on a fishing forum.

PeteB · 01-30-2007, 03:30 PM

Hey, Captain, your computer may have gone to lunch without damage to the hard drive, in which case it could be plugged in as a slave on another machine and you could continue to use it.

Or, you could look into hard drive recovery, even if it is the hard drive itself that failed. CompUSA can do it, but they are pricey and a better bet would be a mom and pop local computer business. If you shop around, you can probably recover your files from a drive with a damaged controller for less than $200.

Pete