OT: Words of sympathy for a fellow HSMTTer?

[Mench]

Hi Guys-

So while at home for Thanksgiving my harddrive crashed. I brought it to a computer technician who is trying to do data retrieval for me. My entire semester of thesis work is on there (college senior in architecture) and I only have some hard copies of recent drafts. I backed up my computer recently, but not recently enough.

Anyone ever been in a similar situation. Words of advice, compassion. Thanks all.

Mench

[bokunori]

I'm sorry to hear that. I usually back my important documents up by E-mailing them to myself.

[KneeCo]

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I'm sorry to hear that. I usually back my important documents up by E-mailing them to myself.

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yea I use the Gspace plugin for firefox for school stuff, its goot.

[Copernicus]

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Hi Guys-

So while at home for Thanksgiving my harddrive crashed. I brought it to a computer technician who is trying to do data retrieval for me. My entire semester of thesis work is on there (college senior in architecture) and I only have some hard copies of recent drafts. I backed up my computer recently, but not recently enough.

Anyone ever been in a similar situation. Words of advice, compassion. Thanks all.

Mench

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There are some reasonably effective OCR programs that may have free trials. theyll save you a lot of time on the thesis if you have access to a scanner.

GL with the recovery.

[Exitonly]

Put harddrive in the freezer for a few hours and then connect it and boot up. If it works, quickly transfer your [censored] off. (i'm serious)

if that doesnt work you'll prob have to send it somewhere, and pay through the nose, but you cna likely get the stuff off.

[curtains]

Does anyone have any recommendations as to the best/safest online storage sites? Assume you want to store a lot of stuff (giant Pokertracker databases etc)

[WarDekar]

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Does anyone have any recommendations as to the best/safest online storage sites? Assume you want to store a lot of stuff (giant Pokertracker databases etc)

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Rent a cheap server (cheapest possible if it doesn't matter to you) with tons of storage from some network center

[Soulman]

OP,

don't know how good the computer tech guy is. I've been able to retrieve lost data from a crashed hard disk myself via using a Knoppix boot cd. Knoppix is a linux-based operative system, pretty easy to use.

In general, backup of data can be done through several means:
- On cd/dvd. Ok for users without a lot of data, and mainly non-sensitive data.
- External hard drive. Cheap and easy to use (connects via USB). Can be automated via various software.
- Netbased storage. Most secure alternative, possibly a bit more hassle (haven't used any myself).

If you're a student, you probably have access to a file area on your uni? If so, use that for backup, and do backups after each and every day of work. In fact, I would store my stuff there and rather use my laptop for backups...at least if your uni storage has backup routines available (which I assume they do).

When I taught classes about basic backup and thesis', I recommended the following:
* Use uni file storage as main system.
* Use versioning, so if you happen to e.g. save over one of your documents, you can easily retrieve them yourself (saves the hassle getting backup from servers).
* Keep a copy on your home computer/laptop. Backup to these less often, say once a week.
* If you're really, really paranoid, e-mail yourself copies as well. Don't bother sorting these, just keep as backup if [censored] really hits the fan.

Follow this, and if you still manage to lose your files...well, chances are you're dead anyway due to massive nuclear bombing or the like [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Rhett]

Why would you ever need to put a PT database in online storage? That is going to be a bitch to upload on a cable modem. You're going to have to constantly pay to keep that server up, maintain it, and it will be vulnerable to hackers.

I have this and love it:
250 GB $150 USB drive. Powered by USB, fits in my pocket.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136139



or if that's not enough space for you:
750GB USB Hard Drive for $266 (Larger, requires power and usb cables)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136133

Back your important stuff onto one of those, and keep it in a safe place

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Does anyone have any recommendations as to the best/safest online storage sites? Assume you want to store a lot of stuff (giant Pokertracker databases etc)

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[zizazziza]

[ QUOTE ]
Put harddrive in the freezer for a few hours and then connect it and boot up. If it works, quickly transfer your [censored] off. (i'm serious)

if that doesnt work you'll prob have to send it somewhere, and pay through the nose, but you cna likely get the stuff off.

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I have done this before. It gave me enough time to back up all of my files. Seems kinda funny, but it works. I was close to being in your situation so I have an idea.