Lost pics (Page 2): I AM VERY SCARED OF COMPUTER MEMORY. I NEED TO HAVE A "HARD" COPY IN FROM OF ME. THAT I TRUST, NOT ONLY WHAT I CAN SEE, BUT WHAT I CAN FEEL AS WELL. ONE SLIP OF THE...

CARABUCO Loc: L.A., CALIFORNIA

I AM VERY SCARED OF COMPUTER MEMORY. I NEED TO HAVE A "HARD" COPY IN FROM OF ME. THAT I TRUST, NOT ONLY WHAT I CAN SEE, BUT WHAT I CAN FEEL AS WELL. ONE SLIP OF THE FINGER AND THATS IT. GONE. I HAVE DONE IT.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Marvin wrote:

Learned a very painful lesson on storing your pics... (show quote)

There are companies that specialize in retrieving data from hard drives. Just Google it.

In the future, buy 2 external hard drives and use one to back the other up. If you are smart, you'll purchase 3 and mirror all three and then put one in a safe or safe deposit box. I just have 2 now, but plan on a third to put in my safe in case of fire or theft.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

tramsey wrote:

Like JR1 says all its not lost. br There's a co... (show quote)

Interesting! I launched carbonite two years ago....I noticed that the only files I could protect (save) were data and application files. I was told by Carbonite that they did not have file storage available for images or video......and if they did, it would take several years to backup 11 terabytes of images. I was 6 or so months into to using Carbonite.......I told them I had little need for them, they offered to and did refund my money.

Perhaps they have changed and now offer image file saving......but I doubt they have found away of saving images any faster, let alone retrieving them.

I use two Drobos, 15 terabytes of storage each. I don't bother with DVD's ....they will soon be obsolete and their readers will eventually fail....just like the floppies.

Memory, backups, and fast moving technology are the bane of every photographer!

danielle_andrassy Loc: Ontario, Canada

Marvin wrote:

Learned a very painful lesson on storing your pics... (show quote)

Please do not despair just yet. Something similar happened to me and I thought I had lost everything. Turns out it was just the connection in the case of the external hard drive that was faulty. The hard drive itself was O.K. The technician at the repair shop transferred the actual hard drive into a new case (about 40$) and I got all my pics back. I also learned a very important lesson. Save your pics in more than one place. Good luck! Hope it works out O.K. for you.

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

stableflame wrote:

Check the serial number of the drive, go onto the seagate website where you should be able to input the serial number somewhere and check the warranty period, if it's still covered you may be able to get seagate to sort the problem for you free of charge.

While they will replace the drive if under warranty, no hard drive manufacturer issues a warranty that holds them liable for data recovery.

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

CARABUCO wrote:

I AM VERY SCARED OF COMPUTER MEMORY. I NEED TO HAVE A "HARD" COPY IN FROM OF ME. THAT I TRUST, NOT ONLY WHAT I CAN SEE, BUT WHAT I CAN FEEL AS WELL. ONE SLIP OF THE FINGER AND THATS IT. GONE. I HAVE DONE IT.

No need to be scared. Just keep your important stuff on multiple drives and DVDs or CDs.

Welcome to the forum. Please feel free to let your finger slip and hit that Caps Lock button to turn it off. It won't delete anything - I promise. :D :D :D

kathylee Loc: Cleveland, Ohio and Clearwater, Florida

What exactly do you mean by CDs being properly stored. I have backups of all my pics on CD (as well as 2 externals) I am curious as to what you mean by that. What do I need to do? I even started making double copies of the CDs as I read that they do not last forever. I found 3 of my originals to already be corrupt, thank goodness the 3 were of the group I had started to make copies. They were all the b same brand CD. so just threw out the rest of that unused box!!

kathylee Loc: Cleveland, Ohio and Clearwater, Florida

What exactly do you mean by CDs being properly stored. I have backups of all my pics on CD (as well as 2 externals) I am curious as to what you mean by that. What do I need to do? I even started making double copies of the CDs as I read that they do not last forever. I found 3 of my originals to already be corrupt, thank goodness the 3 were of the group I had started to make copies. They were all the b same brand CD. so just threw out the rest of that unused box!! (sorry if this posts 2xs not sure if I clicked send)

CARABUCO Loc: L.A., CALIFORNIA

HA, HA! THANKS, I now where "lock caps" button is, BUT CAPS is my ID.

RonH Loc: Shoreview MN

I agree with the folks that save their backup on at least two drives with one of them being kept in a fire safe or off site. It took me the loss of a drive (I got lucky and pulled the images off after it reconnected once) to get serious about getting a backup plan in place. One computer guy put it into a reality mode for me by saying if you don't back up with more than one backup place you deserve what will (not may) happen to you. All drives will fail at some time. It's just a question of how much loss you will suffer when they do.

I personally back up to four places and have had to use my backup only once but when I did it was a great feeling knowing that the images would be there with a click of the mouse.

It's kind of like when you keep driving after the low fuel light comes on. You may and most likely will make it to a gas station but every once in a while you will run out before getting there.

RonH Loc: Shoreview MN

I agree with the folks that save their backup on at least two drives with one of them being kept in a fire safe or off site. It took me the loss of a drive (I got lucky and pulled the images off after it reconnected once) to get serious about getting a backup plan in place. One computer guy put it into a reality mode for me by saying if you don't back up with more than one backup place you deserve what will (not may) happen to you. All drives will fail at some time. It's just a question of how much loss you will suffer when they do.

I personally back up to four places and have had to use my backup only once but when I did it was a great feeling knowing that the images would be there with a click of the mouse.

It's kind of like when you keep driving after the low fuel light comes on. You may and most likely will make it to a gas station but every once in a while you will run out before getting there.

CARABUCO Loc: L.A., CALIFORNIA

SOMEBODY OUT THERE, what is life expectancy for CDs?? i still have 88mm film from 40 years in good condition. I have been thinking on 'converting", but I am afraid the new medium would degrade and the original 8mm still would be "fresh". ??? Opinios, PLS.

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

kathylee wrote:

What exactly do you mean by CDs being properly stored. I have backups of all my pics on CD (as well as 2 externals) I am curious as to what you mean by that. What do I need to do? I even started making double copies of the CDs as I read that they do not last forever. I found 3 of my originals to already be corrupt, thank goodness the 3 were of the group I had started to make copies. They were all the b same brand CD. so just threw out the rest of that unused box!!

Were the CDs corrupted or just not "finalized"? If you copy files to the CD and leave it open to write more later, the CD will be readable on the machine you do that on, but its a crapshoot if another machine can read the disk until the session is closed.

Proper storage for optical media would be a cool dry area and in a jewel box or some kind of sleeve that protects from scratching.

Improper storage would include a stack on the desk without sleeves, on the car seat, in that drawer under the oven, etc...

I think the life expectancy of a CD is rated at a couple hundred years if properly cared for. Multiple copies in separate locations is always good.

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

CARABUCO wrote:

HA, HA! THANKS, I now where "lock caps" button is, BUT CAPS is my ID.

Thanks. It is a lot easier on the eyes. See above for CD life expectancy. I remember researching that one 5 or 6 years ago.

CARABUCO Loc: L.A., CALIFORNIA

How about this?? U see, I am a considerate person and heed advice of good intention. Compromise and we are all happy.