OT: computer data recovery help needed. - Page 2

I can't tell you much right now, but I sent one to the geek sqaud about
three weeks ago for recovery (160 GB laptop drive). Threw tons of money at
it for the wifes sake. Neither of us have been backing up faithfully and it
died the same way yours did. They called, and said what data they could get
was on the way. Will give you the lowdown when I get  it back. Reportedly
what they recovered is coming on a 16GB flash drive, which sounds about
right for the files we requested. You don't even want to know what type of
money we are talking about here. Level 1 is what you hope for ($250) Level 2
is what we got (level 1 + $275) Level 3 starts at $1800. Needless to say we
have taken steps and will not go thru this again. We are doing flash drive
backup, online backup and terabyte mobile drive backup. Bought all this and
a new laptop for what we invested in the level 2. There are other games in
town but Geek Squad has a name to protect and we tried them. We shall see
the results in a few days.
                                   Lyndell



http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sabrent-USB-2.0-to-IDE-SATA-Hard-Drive-Converter/15819320

http://download.cnet.com/1770-2018_4-0.html?query=data+recovery&searchtype=downloads&rpp=10&filter=os=133 |platform=Windows&filterName=os=Windows%207|platform=Windows&tag=pe-searchFacetsTile;navForm

http://www.werecoverdata.com/landingpagegoogle.aspx?src=Google&gclid=CNuZlYOQ06oCFQvCKgod3nHu1g

Backup, backup, backup and verify that your backups are good. 100
backups that are all corrupt or unusable are worth about the same as not
backing up at all when crunch time comes.

Data recovery is always expensive, rarely complete, and rarely worth the
cost as a result.

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by
Please don't feed the trolls. Killfile and ignore them so they will go away.

fyi: I now remember the really good helpful forum I found

http://www.msfn.org/board /

their solution worked with my seagates when they locked up

On Aug 17, 8:06=A0pm, Ecnerwal

And, be ABDSOLUTELY sure you're backing up the right stuff. One of my
(now) clients employed a full-tine, certified-in-everything systems
administrator. One of his duties, of course, was seeing to the
backups, and he did. Every day. So, one day, the inevitable happens,
and a server drive has a total failure. "No problem," says the IT guy.
"We'll just do a full restore from last night's backup."

It was then that he found that, for the past three years, he had,
dutifully, been backing up the programs and not the data.

$1500 to Seagate Recovery Services, and (almost) 100% of the data was
recovered. If it hadn't worked, I think it's pretty certain that the
company would have been out of business inside three months.

I then set them up with a Net Integration Technologies nitix server,
which makes absolutely the best backups in the business. Full every
night, differential every 15 minutes, hot swap drives (one goes off
site daily). Unfortunately, IBM bought Net Integration a couple of
years ago, rebranded it "Lotus Foundations Server" and then, quite
unceremoniously, killed the whole product line (which was a major
revenue stream for me). You can still do similar things with various
linux tools, but this nitix system was sweet and trouble free. I still
support (to the small extent that they need any support at all)
several systems.

But the moral of the story is, make sure that you're backing up the
right stuff, and make sure that your restore method works. Do a
practice run BEFORE it becomes an emergency.

that is actually quite a good punchline; kinda like a seinfeld episode

On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:35:24 -0400, "Lyndell Thompson"


<snip>
============
Thanks for the feedback.  

An internet search indicates that Fields Data Recovery [St
Louis, MO]] specializes in data recovery from WD drives and
has most any parts necessary, so that's where I sent it.  

Their techs are to examine the drive and see what level of
recovery I need. Hopefully it will be level one as the new
computer recognizes the drive using a USB<=>IDE converter,
but says it needs formatting.  The other two drives don't
even register on the computer, although there are no signs
any of the magic smoke escaped...  

FWIW Field's URL is http://www.fields-data-recovery.com /

There appears to be a problem of increasingly sensitive
electronics and deteriorating public power service with more
frequent outages, surges and brown-outs making some sort of
UPS mandatory.  

While I am no expert, the Cyberpower unit I bought from
Walmart, using their site to store to save freight, gives me
about an hours worth of computer/monitor/usb hub power. The
unit was the ideal size and shape for the way I have my
computer desk set-up, and the new computer has automatic
shutdown when the UPS is low [USB connection].
FWIW --
http://www.walmart.com/ip/CyberPower-1500VA-900W-Intelligent-LCD-Battery-Backup-UPS/10250450
Unit also lets me monitor the electric company's [Westar]
voltage and frequency input.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/CyberPower-1500VA-900W-Intelligent-LCD-Battery-Backup-UPS/10250450

Turning off the LCD backlight saves me about 30W, which is significant for
UPS run time. If possible I'd shut the computer down and then power it from
an inverter and car or boat battery.

You might check how long the UPS takes to recharge its battery by monitoring
the input wattage. One of mine draws only 7W when recharging, ie it takes
all day. Another is nearly done in an hour.

I should see how my UPSs like square wave inverter AC coming in. It might
drive the Tripplite with under/overvoltage correction insane.

jsw

I got the 16GB flash drive from geeksqaud today, and overall I am very happy
with the results. We asked for three major file folders and it looks like
they crammed pics, videos, and other things they thought we might need to
fill the 16GB drive. It was almost completely full. They told me there was
problems with some of the pics.............but I randomly looked at some
pics and they look great. Maybe some of them did not recover and are not
included. I must let SWMBO have the computer to catch up on her work! I hope
you get comparable service and results at the level 1 price. I am not
complaining about the level 2 price. I am thankful to get our data back.
Would I do it again? I hope I am prepared so I don't have to
..............but if circumstances were similar I most likely would do it
again.
                                                           Lyndell

"F. George McDuffee"  wrote in message

On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:35:24 -0400, "Lyndell Thompson"


============
Thanks for the feedback.

An internet search indicates that Fields Data Recovery [St
Louis, MO]] specializes in data recovery from WD drives and
has most any parts necessary, so that's where I sent it.

Their techs are to examine the drive and see what level of
recovery I need. Hopefully it will be level one as the new
computer recognizes the drive using a USB<=>IDE converter,
but says it needs formatting.  The other two drives don't
even register on the computer, although there are no signs
any of the magic smoke escaped...

FWIW Field's URL is http://www.fields-data-recovery.com /

There appears to be a problem of increasingly sensitive
electronics and deteriorating public power service with more
frequent outages, surges and brown-outs making some sort of
UPS mandatory.

While I am no expert, the Cyberpower unit I bought from
Walmart, using their site to store to save freight, gives me
about an hours worth of computer/monitor/usb hub power. The
unit was the ideal size and shape for the way I have my
computer desk set-up, and the new computer has automatic
shutdown when the UPS is low [USB connection].
FWIW --
http://www.walmart.com/ip/CyberPower-1500VA-900W-Intelligent-LCD-Battery-Backup-UPS/10250450
Unit also lets me monitor the electric company's [Westar]
voltage and frequency input.

Thanks for the encouraging words.  I just put the WD drive
in the post to the data recovery firm.  I hope their results
are as good as you got from the geeksquad.  



On Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:54:46 -0400, "Lyndell Thompson"

On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:35:24 -0400, "Lyndell Thompson"


1. make back-ups
2. keep back-ups in a differant place
   My firend works in the "biz' had a client that did daily back-ups,
ALWAYS!  stored them in the top desk drawer.  Monitor caught fire,
office was a partial loss, fire dept got there fast.   Tapes were in
top drawer of the desk, melted.
3. take work back-ups home, and take home back-ups to work.


My computer files, just the important ones, are backed up every night
at 4AM over the net, sent to my friend and his files are sent to me.
Sort-of fool proof, as it is automatic and I don't have to remember to
do it.   All of Allentown could be leveled flat and my files wouuld be
safe.

Remove 333 to reply.
Randy

wrote:


No, just use fire and waterproof safes for storage in both places.



Yeah, the over-the-net backup places are looking better and better
every crash...

--
...in order that a man may be happy, it is
necessary that he should not only be capable
of his work, but a good judge of his work.
                              -- John Ruskin

Do NOT use flash drives for backup!  They are fine for moving files
around, but they are not reliable enough to store anything valuable for a
long time.  I know a number of people who have had them fail, and some of
them took irreplaceable files with them.  They have finite lifetime
(read/write cycles) as it is, and they have internal algorithms that move
the data around to even out the "wear".  

I use a Network Attached Storage (NAS) box with RAID for short term
backup, and archive that to USB portable drives periodically.  Those get
rotated in & out of our safe deposit box so even a fire won't destroy
more than a months worth of stuff.  My wife's home business gets backed
up on a daily basis automatically using Carbonite.  All of our computers
(and the NAS) are on UPS's.  The UPS will notify the NAS if there is a
power failure, and the NAS will shut down automatically before the UPS
runs out of steam.

If you want to get an NAS, I wouldn't go any higher than 500 Gbytes for
the drives.  The 1 TByte drives are proving to be very unreliable.  I
usually use the reviews on Newegg.com to find which drives are relatively
trouble free.  The other thing to look for is the drive with the lowest
power consumption to reduce heat.  If you are looking at drive enclosures
or NAS's, get the ones with the best cooling.  A lot of USB drive
enclosures are plastic, and don't have a fan.

We've got 8 computers in the house, and in the ~9 years since I became
the IT manager for my wife & step daughters, we've never lost a single
bit.  The only serious drive failure I've had was in the NAS box, and the
RAID took care of it.

Doug White

Thanks Doug, I will heed your warning. Up till now I thought the flash
drives were pretty much bullet proof. We live and learn ................or
at least hope to.
                                                   Lyndell

"Doug White"  wrote in message



Do NOT use flash drives for backup!  They are fine for moving files
around, but they are not reliable enough to store anything valuable for a
long time.  I know a number of people who have had them fail, and some of
them took irreplaceable files with them.  They have finite lifetime
(read/write cycles) as it is, and they have internal algorithms that move
the data around to even out the "wear".

I use a Network Attached Storage (NAS) box with RAID for short term
backup, and archive that to USB portable drives periodically.  Those get
rotated in & out of our safe deposit box so even a fire won't destroy
more than a months worth of stuff.  My wife's home business gets backed
up on a daily basis automatically using Carbonite.  All of our computers
(and the NAS) are on UPS's.  The UPS will notify the NAS if there is a
power failure, and the NAS will shut down automatically before the UPS
runs out of steam.

If you want to get an NAS, I wouldn't go any higher than 500 Gbytes for
the drives.  The 1 TByte drives are proving to be very unreliable.  I
usually use the reviews on Newegg.com to find which drives are relatively
trouble free.  The other thing to look for is the drive with the lowest
power consumption to reduce heat.  If you are looking at drive enclosures
or NAS's, get the ones with the best cooling.  A lot of USB drive
enclosures are plastic, and don't have a fan.

We've got 8 computers in the house, and in the ~9 years since I became
the IT manager for my wife & step daughters, we've never lost a single
bit.  The only serious drive failure I've had was in the NAS box, and the
RAID took care of it.

Doug White