...because the next day the power supply to my desk top went out.

It really sucks too because when it went out it damaged my hard drives and I had a lot of movies, manuscripts in various degrees of completion, and a lot of photos. None of which was properly backed up on disks because I was stupid enough not to think of doing it.  :'( :'( :'(

LostArtist wrote on 12/06/10 at 17:07:35:


Very true, even though my notebook is a HP Omnibook 6000 which is so obsolete that when it came out Windows 2000 was the newest OS. But oh well, it still works. And it isn't too slow for having only a 900mhz processor even though I am used to a 3ghz.

To tell you the truth, I am surprised that my desk top lasted as long as it did. I built it over five years ago. So I reckon a comp that lasts that long did pretty well.

Sorry Yonuh.  Did you keep a printed copy?  There are some good text converters if you could scan it, then convert it back to text.  How long was it?  I'd probably be willing to do it for you, if you could scan it and email it to me....  

Oh, I've also seen alot of "online backup" places now.  Anybody use one they'd recommend... or not recommend?

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 12/16/10 at 12:55:02:


Already have. It was an e-mail submission and I haven't heard back if she will send it back to me.

I did find my first rough draft so I am in the process of re-typing it into my notebook (backing it up on a flash drive as I go) I just hope I can remember what revisions I had already made previously. Hopefully I can get it done and get everything suitable for the editor.

Yonuh Adisi FSO wrote on 12/06/10 at 17:01:38:


"There are those who have been hurt by not backing up their data, and those who have not....YET"

With all we do on our 'puters these days, back-up is an essential task.

Yonuh, I feel your pain.  I have sat at my desk and started my desktop and heard that awful grinding sound of a physical head-crash, and, and with a sick-to-my-stomach groan wondered "!%#*, when did I do my last back up", and realizing it had been WAAAAAY too long.  

With yours, it sounds like the problem was electrical not physical, so as Stimpy said, there is hope.  The data is, most likely, still there.  Check your area for data recovery outfits.  They are not cheap, but depending on the pain of what might be lost, it might be worth it to you.

babyhog wrote on 12/17/10 at 05:15:51:


Unfortunately, yes.

If my younger daughter would actually find the flash drive I loaned her a few months ago, I have a copy of my manuscript on it. But her room is a black hole. You need a flare just find your way back out of it when you venture in. (unfortunately she takes after me in that regard, when I was her age my room was a disaster area as well)

I will definitely look into any data recovery places we may have around here. Thanks guys for the suggestion. Would the fact that I was running a bootlegged OS hamper the data recovery? I have sense finally ordered a legitimate copy of the OS I was using, but the drives in my desktop at the time of failure still had the bootlegged copy.

verslagen1 wrote on 12/17/10 at 10:13:04:


Yes I tried to install the drives into my daughter's computer which works fine, but it just goes to the windows logo screen then begins the reboot process all over again and then it repeats. But when my daughter's drive is hooked back up it boots up with no problem.

I do plan on getting a tb external hard drive for back up files and movies that I download.

verslagen1 wrote on 12/17/10 at 11:47:12:


Good idea, I'll try that. I'll let you know if it works.