Lessons Learned - Back Up Your Data!
I was reading a blog entry by Lee at Search Engine Viking which reminded me of the importance of backing up your data.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to make regular backup copies of your important data.
I have had a number of people experience problems with their computers, and ask if I can recover anything for them.
I too have fallen victim to problems with computers, and not had a back up.
There are occasions when something goes wrong with your computer - for whatever reason - and you just cannot get any of the data back of it.
Unfortunately this happens.
It's why we should back up! I have been fortunate however, and want to share of a few experiences when I have been faced with having no backup to restore and a computer that is not working.
The first occasion was my own laptop.
It happened about 2 years ago, over half way through my PhD research.
I did everything on my laptop.
I wrote reports, kept research documents, stored personal documents and various other items on my laptop.
I really should have backed it up - or at least more regularly! Anyway, one day I power up the laptop and I get an error on the screen.
I can't remember what it was of the top of my head - however, it wasn't pretty.
Several expletives later, I decided, right, take it to a computer shop and see what they can do.
So I leave it in with the "experts".
They plug it into their systems.
Is there not anything can be done? Apparently not! All I can do, so they say, is get a new hard disk, and start from scratch.
Screw that I thought! I had everything on this laptop, I wanted a second opinion.
So the next day I was back in work - chatting to one of my colleagues about this situation I found myself in.
He was quite sympathetic, but I got the usual banter - didn't you back it up?! Said friend recommended a piece of software called Trinity Rescue Kit.
I had never heard of it before.
So I gave it a whirl.
Basically what this "kit" does, is run a version of Linux, of your RAM.
Great stuff it was too! I burned it onto a disc from another computer, and popped it into my laptop.
Booted up.
Hurray, at least the CD drive works.
The kit loaded up a real treat.
I plugged in an external USB hard drive, and chose the option to load up and mount all hard drives.
I got the loan of a book, Linux in a Nutshell by Ellen Siever from the library, and got used to the Linux commands.
The best thing of all, when I got around to understanding everything, was this rescue software managed to not only detect, but actually mounted my hard drive.
I felt a sudden amount of relief.
However, I still had to get the data off the laptop.
Anyway, by this stage I knew the commands required.
I was able to copy everything I needed from the laptop to the external hard drive.
There were only a few files lost due to the corrupted hard drive on the laptop.
I know I was lucky! I was more than happy that the software worked! I have recommended Trinity Rescue Kit to a number of people about this.
I have also been approached by some family members with their computer woes, and I have managed to recover their data.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to make regular backup copies of your important data.
I have had a number of people experience problems with their computers, and ask if I can recover anything for them.
I too have fallen victim to problems with computers, and not had a back up.
There are occasions when something goes wrong with your computer - for whatever reason - and you just cannot get any of the data back of it.
Unfortunately this happens.
It's why we should back up! I have been fortunate however, and want to share of a few experiences when I have been faced with having no backup to restore and a computer that is not working.
The first occasion was my own laptop.
It happened about 2 years ago, over half way through my PhD research.
I did everything on my laptop.
I wrote reports, kept research documents, stored personal documents and various other items on my laptop.
I really should have backed it up - or at least more regularly! Anyway, one day I power up the laptop and I get an error on the screen.
I can't remember what it was of the top of my head - however, it wasn't pretty.
Several expletives later, I decided, right, take it to a computer shop and see what they can do.
So I leave it in with the "experts".
They plug it into their systems.
Sorry sir, but we cannot connect to your hard disk drive.Okay I thought.
A data recovery will not be possible
Is there not anything can be done? Apparently not! All I can do, so they say, is get a new hard disk, and start from scratch.
Screw that I thought! I had everything on this laptop, I wanted a second opinion.
So the next day I was back in work - chatting to one of my colleagues about this situation I found myself in.
He was quite sympathetic, but I got the usual banter - didn't you back it up?! Said friend recommended a piece of software called Trinity Rescue Kit.
I had never heard of it before.
So I gave it a whirl.
Basically what this "kit" does, is run a version of Linux, of your RAM.
Great stuff it was too! I burned it onto a disc from another computer, and popped it into my laptop.
Booted up.
Hurray, at least the CD drive works.
The kit loaded up a real treat.
I plugged in an external USB hard drive, and chose the option to load up and mount all hard drives.
I got the loan of a book, Linux in a Nutshell by Ellen Siever from the library, and got used to the Linux commands.
The best thing of all, when I got around to understanding everything, was this rescue software managed to not only detect, but actually mounted my hard drive.
I felt a sudden amount of relief.
However, I still had to get the data off the laptop.
Anyway, by this stage I knew the commands required.
I was able to copy everything I needed from the laptop to the external hard drive.
There were only a few files lost due to the corrupted hard drive on the laptop.
I know I was lucky! I was more than happy that the software worked! I have recommended Trinity Rescue Kit to a number of people about this.
I have also been approached by some family members with their computer woes, and I have managed to recover their data.
