Nightmare we all dread--my hard drive went bye-bye

Charles Papert · October 24th, 2004, 07:17 PM

Well, that drive never woke up and I determined its contents were not worth taking it to the big $$ level. I have moved on and purchased a 500GB drive for backing up my video data. What software would you guys recommend for nightly backups? I have been pointed towards Retrospect. Thoughts?

Jeff Donald · October 24th, 2004, 07:34 PM

I have used Retrospect since my early Avid days. The interface could be more Mac like, but overall it does the job.

Charles Papert · October 24th, 2004, 11:25 PM

Thanks Jeff. Looks like I'm diving in.

Rob Lohman · October 25th, 2004, 04:32 AM

Just to clear some things up, yes those companies might employ
special software to recover the data (you can get some of those
programs for at least a PC as well). However, a GOOD company
goes far futher and actually has a clean room to open drives
inspect them (sometimes repair as well) and have other options
to retrieve data from such drives. Expensive? Yes, always.

If the drive still spins up there might be a program that can recover
(some of) the data. Otherwise only such a company could do it.

The first and most important rule of any data recovery is DO NOT
alter the drive in any way if you want to recover (a GOOD recover
program will not allow you to write to the bad drive for example),
that includes dropping it (unless you have exhausted any other
option and you don't want to pay $$$ and you think the heads
may be stuck).

Peter TK Lee · October 28th, 2004, 10:14 PM

Well, a long time ago, Apple Computer did actually suggest dropping the Apple III to recover it. Without a fan, it got so hot, some of the chips popped out of their sockets and Apple recommended dropping it to realign the chips :)

cheers,
Peter

October 24th, 2004, 07:17 PM	#16
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Well, that drive never woke up and I determined its contents were not worth taking it to the big $$ level. I have moved on and purchased a 500GB drive for backing up my video data. What software would you guys recommend for nightly backups? I have been pointed towards Retrospect. Thoughts? __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

October 24th, 2004, 07:34 PM	#17
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I have used Retrospect since my early Avid days. The interface could be more Mac like, but overall it does the job. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 24th, 2004, 11:25 PM	#18
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Thanks Jeff. Looks like I'm diving in. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

October 25th, 2004, 04:32 AM	#19
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Just to clear some things up, yes those companies might employ special software to recover the data (you can get some of those programs for at least a PC as well). However, a GOOD company goes far futher and actually has a clean room to open drives inspect them (sometimes repair as well) and have other options to retrieve data from such drives. Expensive? Yes, always. If the drive still spins up there might be a program that can recover (some of) the data. Otherwise only such a company could do it. The first and most important rule of any data recovery is DO NOT alter the drive in any way if you want to recover (a GOOD recover program will not allow you to write to the bad drive for example), that includes dropping it (unless you have exhausted any other option and you don't want to pay $$$ and you think the heads may be stuck). __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 28th, 2004, 10:14 PM	#20
Peter TK Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 39	Well, a long time ago, Apple Computer did actually suggest dropping the Apple III to recover it. Without a fan, it got so hot, some of the chips popped out of their sockets and Apple recommended dropping it to realign the chips :) cheers, Peter