POSTS WILL BE LIGHT FOR A FEW DAYS

by Kevin Walsh

My hard drive died, I have to use my old machine, which has an old version of safari which doesn’t allow access to several sites, and my most recent photos are stuck on the diabled hard drive. So, into the shop it goes, where hopefully they can be rescued. This is the second time this year I’ve had to do this, so I think I’ll buy a new machine.

I’ll try to work with what I have in the meantime, but if there’s no posts for a few days, that’s why.

11/30/13

15 comments

Bill Tweeddale December 1, 2013 - 12:57 pm

Sorry about your HD. I hope you can recover the photo’s. If you don’t do so already, regular backups of user data (photos, documents, etc) is a must, and there are free programs which make it painless (eg. Cobian Backup). Also, USB connected 1TB HD’s are available for $50, and 32GB flashdrives can be had for $12. Good luck.

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Mike December 1, 2013 - 3:46 pm

As an X NYer,in Buffalo NY. Happy Holidays, Kevin !!!

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Tom December 2, 2013 - 3:05 pm

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully the pictures can be saved.
Take care.

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Bob K December 3, 2013 - 10:00 am

Best of luck! And thanks always, regardless.

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Justin M December 4, 2013 - 12:11 am

Install Dropbox or Google Drive or Box or something other cloud storage. Sync your photos to the cloud for backup purposes. The next time a hard drive dies, no data lost!

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Kevin Walsh December 4, 2013 - 11:50 pm

I had Dropbox but could never figure out how it’s used.

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RM December 6, 2013 - 2:39 pm

If you’re on a Mac, you have to buy an external hard drive and setup Time Machine with it.
Your site and all the work you do is too valuable, if you need help with any of this, please email me (don’t publish my email please). I will be happy to help you in anyway I can, it’s the least I can do for enjoying your site for all these years.

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Kevin Walsh December 8, 2013 - 12:36 am

I did that, and my stuff prior to late 2012 was saved. For some reason Time Machine didn’t save to the ext disc after that, why, I dunno. I didn’t check it since I thought Time Machine was set it and forget it.I’ll have to check it periodically.

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RM December 9, 2013 - 12:07 pm

Time machine will indicate in the menu bar the status : usually a failed or delayed backup is indicated by an exclamation mark. If you’re not seeing anything in the menu bar, go to System Preferences, Time Machine, and check “Show Time Machine Status in menu bar”

It is set and forget, unless there’s a big honking exclamation mark in the menu bar, but of course, you need to enable it to see it in the first place. (it is usually on by default, something happened there…)

let me know if I can help!

Nirmal December 4, 2013 - 3:34 am

that sucks…..i’ve had to deal with the same issue. i’ve since decided to put my stuff on a portable drive, even though that isn’t fool proof either. hope you get to re-shoot and keep on bringing us your interesting goodies!

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Joe Fliel December 4, 2013 - 2:00 pm

You might want to consider using Carbonite to back up your files:

http://www.carbonite.com/lp/media/banner-dual-ppctm2.aspx?catid=200253&mkwid=sxm3zeY0a|dc&adnumber=32472762541&cm_mmc=ppc-_-usa:none:none-_-google-_-sxm3zeY0a&gclid=CKa6zvOfl7sCFUjxOgodRQsAZg

Sixty bucks a year isn’t much for piece of mind.

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Charlie December 4, 2013 - 3:05 pm

All hard drives will die. It’s just a matter of when.
Loosing your photos is a hard lesson but if you did it twice in one year and you still don’t have a backup you can’t complain. Also, buying a new machine will not remove the possibility of a hard drive crash. You still must take the time to make a backup.

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Kevin Walsh December 4, 2013 - 11:47 pm

I was able to back up via Time Machine through the end of 2012. For some reason it didn’t back up after that.

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FNY Fan Skip December 7, 2013 - 1:39 am

Kevin,

If the (new) system can see your drive (if it’s not totally toast), by either USB or internal cable, the files can be possibly saved. Check into free recovery software and see if it catches anything savable.

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FNY Fan Skip February 17, 2014 - 12:52 pm

Kevin,

Any luck on the drive yet?

Reply

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