Computer CRASH!

CalifDude

Member
My harddrive completely crashed. I have borrowed a computer, but until I find all the software I used to use for making predictions, I will be "off the air" for awhile.

CalifDude
 

blitzed

Member
awww tough luck CalifDude:eek:
backup backup backup everyone:agree:

for those going through withdrawals of CalifDude's predictions...for now you can always try my interactive pick3 box wheels:
http://crazynuts.hollosite.com/daily3_pick3_lottery/

it goes up to the 7digit box wheel offers a 35 pick spread similar to the ones CalifDude sometimes predicts for box bets...ifya don't expect doubles, then go for it...probably wise to only bet the 35picks boxed only...otherwise ifya hit, you might only break even.

cheers!
blitzed:thumb:
 

CalifDude

Member
blitzed said:
awww tough luck CalifDude:eek:
backup backup backup everyone:agree:

for those going through withdrawals of CalifDude's predictions...for now you can always try my interactive pick3 box wheels:
http://crazynuts.hollosite.com/daily3_pick3_lottery/

it goes up to the 7digit box wheel offers a 35 pick spread similar to the ones CalifDude sometimes predicts for box bets...ifya don't expect doubles, then go for it...probably wise to only bet the 35picks boxed only...otherwise ifya hit, you might only break even.

cheers!
blitzed:thumb:

I have an old (2 yrs??) backup. I bought a nice DVD/CD burner for making backups, but it works on USB2 like everything else, but my computer has USB1. It took me over 10 hours to make an image file of 30GBs.

I will start making backups using the built in CD burner from now on and just back up some stuff, not all of it!!

I just bought a new 160GB drive and will install it later.

CalifDude
 

blitzed

Member
hiya CalifDude...yup, can be a bummer when technologies have to fall back.

anyway, it is a good idea to make backup copies of installation CD/DVDs as well, program keys. I know some people who go as far as keepin the originals in their safety-deposit boxes heh!

blank discs don't cost jack...wise to burn program data files & spreadsheets periodically, I've learned from my mistakes plenty o times heh! dumpin stuff to USB thumb drives is very handy too...also web-based email such as Yahoo is a good place to store some spreadsheets or whatever.

I sometimes even carry around my email program, openoffice calc and spreadsheets on a usb thumb drive on my keychain :)

anyway, I hopeya get back up & runnin without too much hassle..cheers!
blitzed:thumb:
 

CalifDude

Member
blitzed said:
hiya CalifDude...yup, can be a bummer when technologies have to fall back.

anyway, it is a good idea to make backup copies of installation CD/DVDs as well, program keys. I know some people who go as far as keepin the originals in their safety-deposit boxes heh!

blank discs don't cost jack...wise to burn program data files & spreadsheets periodically, I've learned from my mistakes plenty o times heh! dumpin stuff to USB thumb drives is very handy too...also web-based email such as Yahoo is a good place to store some spreadsheets or whatever.

I sometimes even carry around my email program, openoffice calc and spreadsheets on a usb thumb drive on my keychain :)

anyway, I hopeya get back up & runnin without too much hassle..cheers!
blitzed:thumb:

:agree2:

CalifDude
 

Teufellj

Member
Hey there califdude... try cloning from the old harddrive.

If you don't want to use a disk imager (or similar utility), you can format your new hard drive, reinstall Windows, and then transfer your files from the old drive to the new one. This is not the preferred route and involves many more steps, including:

take out the old hard drive
install the new hard drive
format the new hard drive
install Windows on the new hard drive
once Windows is installed, insert old hard drive
boot into Windows from the new hard drive
search for all your data and files from the old hard drive
copy the old data to the new hard drive
reinstall all your programs

Might want to try the above or get hold of an imaging utility!
Good luck,

Teufellj...
 

CalifDude

Member
Teufellj said:
Hey there califdude... try cloning from the old harddrive.

If you don't want to use a disk imager (or similar utility), you can format your new hard drive, reinstall Windows, and then transfer your files from the old drive to the new one. This is not the preferred route and involves many more steps, including:

take out the old hard drive
install the new hard drive
format the new hard drive
install Windows on the new hard drive
once Windows is installed, insert old hard drive
boot into Windows from the new hard drive
search for all your data and files from the old hard drive
copy the old data to the new hard drive
reinstall all your programs

Might want to try the above or get hold of an imaging utility!
Good luck,

Teufellj...

Thank you for all the suggestions, but the old harddrive will not read, so all of that is impossible.

My son-in-law is a "computer expert" and does it for a living. We tried numerous things including putting the old drive in his laptop and it would not work there either. When the drive is running, it sounds like it has sand in it!

He has a device at work that may be able to recover the data. My main concern is my tax info (TurboTax).

I am using his computer right now and he has offered to let me keep it, if we can't get the other computer running. I bought a new drive yesterday for the old computer, so we will install that and re-install Windows, etc.

CalifDude
 

blitzed

Member
CalifDude said:
Thank you for all the suggestions, but the old harddrive will not read, so all of that is impossible.

My son-in-law is a "computer expert" and does it for a living. We tried numerous things including putting the old drive in his laptop and it would not work there either. When the drive is running, it sounds like it has sand in it!

He has a device at work that may be able to recover the data. My main concern is my tax info (TurboTax).

I am using his computer right now and he has offered to let me keep it, if we can't get the other computer running. I bought a new drive yesterday for the old computer, so we will install that and re-install Windows, etc.

CalifDude

bummer, great that ya have help tho :)

one good config is to have one harddrive exclusively for running windows, then another harddrive just for archiving copies of your data files...and/or burn CD/DVD, or copy to USB HD/flash every week or so.

offsite backups are a good idea in the event of fire or flood or whatever...you could create a password protected folder on your website, and even store encrypted archives of your stuff there...or store it in an FTP folder above webroot so there is no web access to it...only via your FTP account.

later,
blitzed
 

CalifDude

Member
blitzed said:
bummer, great that ya have help tho :)

one good config is to have one harddrive exclusively for running windows, then another harddrive just for archiving copies of your data files...and/or burn CD/DVD, or copy to USB HD/flash every week or so.

offsite backups are a good idea in the event of fire or flood or whatever...you could create a password protected folder on your website, and even store encrypted archives of your stuff there...or store it in an FTP folder above webroot so there is no web access to it...only via your FTP account.

later,
blitzed

I have considered the website idea. But for copying to hardware, if I keep the old computer, that is very slow. It has USB1 and most everything nowadays is USB2.

CalifDude
 

blitzed

Member
hiya CalifDude,

sure, ya could just use a new computer...but keep in mind that ifya simply want to backup a few data files each week, then USB1 will suffice.

however, ifya intend to image your entire windows installation, then yes it is a good idea to have USB2 to dump system images to.

on the other hand, you could install a PCI card which will giveya USB2 ports.

I usually just backup my data files rather than the entire system. By the time my system shows signs of goin screwy, it is somewhat pointless to restore that old image, since there are new security patches & service packs, new drivers and all that to be installed on top of the installed image anyway. Therefore I just tuck my data files away safely along with my program install setup stuff, drivers, and re-install windows from scratch. I usually run windows for about 6 to 9 months then wipe everything and install fresh & clean...seems to be the best way to keep a system hummin along...equivalent of an oil change & tuneup, rotatin the wheels I guess heh!

cheers!
blitzed
 

CalifDude

Member
The first (and only) backup that I did on the fancy burner that I bought was a complete image. I just never did backups after that of my document files, etc. I have never really had any software problems and I have had that laptop for maybe 5 years.

At any rate I really appreciate your suggestions. You are right and I have learned my lesson! I started with computers and the internet back in 1980 when I built my S-100 bus computer. This is the first time I have had a major loss of a computer or data, so I guess I am lucky.

Thank you again for all of your great suggestions.

CalifDude
 

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