Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Lost

When I began blogging, I wanted this space to be a haven for people to take a little respite from their busy world. Because of this, I try not to complain too much when life takes its twists and turns.


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It wasn’t that today was awful, but when you combine it with the sort of days I’ve been having lately, it was just par for the course. The icing on the cake, however, happened tonight when my external hard drive, the place where I store all of my photographs, ceased to exist.

I know it wants to start up. I can hear it wanting to and trying . . . but no.

It just dies.

I never thought I’d be writing this, that I would be among the ranks of people who lose their precious files from their hard drives, but here I am. I have a Maxtor One Touch 4 with 500GB of space, and the last time I checked, I had plenty of room. I’ve had this hard drive for just over 3 years. I’ve contacted a data retrieval company for a quote and am planning on talking to the tech geeks at work tomorrow as well.

Oddly enough, despite the fact that all of my photos are gone, I don’t feel like it’s the end of the world. This is why there are data retrieval companies. Right? So for now, I’ll share a photo I took over the weekend that I saved on my laptop. Unfortunately, all of my textures are on that hard drive too (I don’t even want to think of this) but the texture on this photo was downloaded from Shadowhouse Creations this afternoon and saved to the laptop. The brushes are from French Kiss and were a free download from their FB page.

Once I get back up and running, I plan on hosting a Giveaway. Because I plan on being happy.

Until next time, my friends . . .

(wish me luck)

ps – my signature is also lost.

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have a lot of photos on an external hard drive too.. but digital photos don't last forever either. I also put some on CD's some years back... those aren't safe forever either, and I just decided that in the bigger scheme of things and crappy things that happen in life that I really don't care if they go 'poof'. I still have the memories... and I try to print out a few here and there so I at least have those.

By all means... be happy! I am having a giveaway right now so come visit me and smile!

Candylei said...

Hopefully you will get them all back. Our laptop crashed and it was $100. plus to get all of my digital pics back on a cd! That was a few years back. I hope eveything is looking up soon!!

Jeanne Walker said...

I'm not a techie, but I am praying that your photos are not forever gone! I like the idea of printing out your most favorite...that would be quite a few if I were printing them out for you!!! Sometimes when it rains it pours, but there is always a rainbow ready to shine through. Keep your head up and know that you are loved! Now go kick something! Oh, but not George!!!

TexWisGirl said...

well, the photo you gave us is lovely. good luck with the data retrieval!

Denise at Autumn Sky said...

I am sure they can get them back for you. Hard drives don't last forever, unfortunately, so it's good to have two of them. Or get a flash drive, easy to store. There are also online storage services which I think are pretty affordable. I have mine on my iMac, on a backup drive, and a flash drive. I've lost photos in the past and I don't want to go through that again. Don't ever count on a drive lasting forever:-(

Deb said...

hope you get them back....I lost some photos on a lap top...made me sad...

Deb said...

hope you get them back....I lost some photos on a lap top...made me sad...

Annette W. said...

HUGS!!

Low Tide High Style said...

First of all I'm SO sorry! And this calls for serious measures...check your email!

Kat

Anonymous said...

Can't win for losing can you seestah?
That''s certainly el stinko!

Callie Brady said...

Hope they can find all your photos. Be happy!

JaneK said...

"well..... shee-it" (and yes, it is 2 syllables b/c I live in the south) is usually all there is to say sometimes.... I'm sorry.... and it is not like you lost stuff for work or something else....but you are temporarily missing (we'll say that) the things that are your respite away from the daily grind... I'm throwing some prayers that way that the techies can make their magic happen at a reasonable cost.... keep us posted for sure!

Hilary said...

Darn that Mercury retrograde. I'm sorry you lost your photos, Kate but hopefully, you'll be able to retrieve your content. Still, your images must also be stored elsewhere.. Flickr.. Photobucket?

Cloudia said...

Ah but they exist on your blog!
SO many glories.
Yes, for YOU to lose data is to lose something of value (your shots are awesome) but I reflect that someday I must leave even my eyes, my hands, my breath, my island, my family. . .

Love you with Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

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Andi said...

Oh my! I think I would sit in a corner and cry! although, in the grand scheme of life, I guess is small potatoes. I am sure the retrieval co. can help, like you said, it is why they exist. My hubby, saves our stuff to the hard drive and burns CD's, and everything stays here on my laptop. So far so good. The EHD stays in the fire box. WE have looked into online storage but can not make the jump yet.

Reena said...

That just sucks! I'm sure you'll be able to retrieve them but the time in doing so just saps your energy! I have a backup drive as well and funny but tonight it was not backing up properly and I wiped it totally out and am now in the process of backing up my laptop. Currently, my 30,000+ photos all reside on my laptop as well as on a another external drive.
Big hugs sent your way!
xo

Christie - Fine Lines said...

I am holding good, positive thoughts that the "techies" will solve the problem and all will be well. It is amazing what they can do!!

tj said...

...Okay, now I'm scared. I've backed up photos on one of those little hard drive thingys but other than that, haven't backed up anything else. And our computer is circa 2004...*now shrinking in corner*

...I'm sure you'll be able to get everything back. This is the second time this past week I've read about someone's computer crashing and they've lost everything. Well, okay, make that one person because you didn't lose everything. That's right. Because tomorrow you'll get it all back. [ahem] *wink*wink*

...And I just heard this recently from a very insightful, intelligent, sweet and beautiful person. [ahem] She said, "I believe you know that you have to make your own happiness, and you are the only one responsible for it." ;o)

...Your week WILL get better. Starting tomorrow actually. With the data retrieval company tech geeks getting your external hard drive back. That's right. It WILL get better, 'kay?

...Love ya. And gorgeous photo too! :o)

...Blessings

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

So, so, sorry! Hopefully all will be saved!

mrs mediocrity said...

oh no! I'm so sorry. Hopefully they will be able to retrieve everything for you. and i hope you have a better day tomorrow. hugs.

beth said...

i just wrote a huge comment for you and blogger ate it....sheesh, what's going on ?

anyhow....now i'm out of words, BUT i pray that all your photos are saved.

oxxo

tainterturtles said...

I know the feeling. Last year at this time, I lost three years of photos. I felt sick to my stomach, but learned a BIG lesson. Now after another year, my external hard-drive had problems, but I didn't lose any photos. It's always a gamble....maybe the iCloud is the way to go!!!

Sweetpea said...

I'm crossing every possible thing there is to be crossed over here for you, for luck...that just totally sucks beyond all suckiness. gaaacck. NOT at all what you need to have happening in your life! Hang tough, CG...

Bluebird49 said...

Good heavens--I can't imagine! I mean--I don't take photos like yours, but I've got dear grankids' pictures on one of those little external hard drives, and now I'm quaking, too. I hope and pray you an get someone to retrieve them. No-in the grand scheme of things, they're not the whole world, but still, they're like your babies. So, I've got everything crossed I can possibly cross that yours can be gotten out by the magi techie fairy! What a downer.

Liz said...

I'm sorry that it died on you Kate, but I have to say it makes me feel, well, vidicated :o) I back up to two separate drives, a portable and just an external always attached to the PC. The portable is a 1TB and the external is a 500GB. Do you know just how much laughter this has caused, my darling other half always tells me I'm being over cautious, just wasting money on two drives....huh, wait until I tell him this...!!! That will make me smile...
Lizzie
xxx

The Weaver of Grass said...

Hang on in there! Don't allow it to get you down - I look forward to your bright blog every day - and am amazed at the way you keep going through adversity. Hopefully it will all come right in the end - I'm sure they are all there somewhere in cyberspace. Love to you.

Sharon said...

Three years is about all you can ask for a hard drive. Some last longer but don't expect it. I hope you get your photos back.

I hope your days get better.

Ellen said...

Wishing and hoping for the best!

Peppermint Ph.D. said...

so sorry, Kate...I lost thousands of pics of my kids on my external hard-drive just recently as well. Our tech support at school tried and tried to get into it and retrieve my files. They finally gave me a name and number for a data retrieval company...they warned me that it wouldn't be inexpensive, but if it gets me my pics back, it'll be money well spent. The tech guys also told me that there are no external hard-drives that are as fool-proof as "putting things in a cloud." And, any of the online services are as good as any other...just food for thought...but I've opened a Picassa and Kodak account for that very reason. I know how sick you are.

Sarah said...

Oh, so sorry to hear this. I do hope the retrieval company can get the data off for you. My main EHD crashed several months ago, and while I have some of the things on CDs (which I haven't checked in a while to see if I can still access them) and others on another EHD, it's still a loss. Good luck! And just take more photos!

Nurse Nancy said...

I hope the recovery process is short, sweet and painless....

BB said...

Oh. No. I hope your data retrieval works a little miracle for you... I have been unlucky in this dept and think I might do a massive backup on the strength of your story here...

Throwing rose petals to appease the data gods for you, Kate!
;-)
BB

Jeanette said...

My hard drive crashed a few years ago. It's frustrating and scary! Hope the retreival is quick and thorough!

The JR said...

You know you only have good luck wishes from me.

I'm so paranoid that I back up my pics to 2 other computers and an external.

Anonymous said...

I've been using Carbonite since earlier this year and have really liked it. It backs up automatically when I'm connected to the Internet. If I accidentally ruin a picture, I have a short amount of time to get out to Carbonite and retrieve it before it's been overlaid with a back-up. Unfortunately, if you delete something from your computer, it deletes from Carbonite after 30 days. For me, might not be enough time realize a mistake was made.

Nancy
www.dogear6.com

Unknown said...

oh, Kate .
my heart .

It will be okay. It will. It will.

xoxo

becky up the hill said...

Well 'poop' since this is a family friendly blog..so sorry Kate. Honestly, I am very sorry.

Gone Country said...

I hope the tech geeks can retrieve your images. Good luck!

Great image & texture use of the tufted titmouse!

Kitty Moore said...

Good luck - hope you manage to retrieve everything!

Lili said...

Ohhhhh Kate, that is such a sinking feeling, but I am keeping my fingers crossed for them to find their way back to you. You and your camera create beauty everywhere you go, you know. xoxo (and an extra big hug to you today too!) ~Lili

Daryl said...

Okay .. I knew something was wrong, I just knew it .. take a deep breath, go out to the car and shout as many expletives as you know, if you run short call me I know many ... then remember that they all exist here on your blog so they can be copied/downloaded .. and then buy a LeCie 3T and start over (I am sure they can get your old photos off the dead drive but you'll still need a new external drive .. and then when I get home I am going to back up mine again even tho I did it Sunday .. xoxoxo

mudmaven said...

I'm so sorry you are having this kind of trouble. I know how devastating it can be and expensive to recover from too. My office had about 2 terabytes lost once and it cost a lot to get it back (about $7000). Yours should be considerably less I hope! I have a 500g portable drive that I am now backing up both at the office and at home onto 2tb drives (I'm very paranoid and my stuff isn't even close to as wonderful as yours). Best of luck and I sure hope things start turning out better for you really soon. ~chris

sharon said...

I've been meaning to back up all my photos. I've already lost them once. Never fear, you'll get them all back, they are just floating in computer space waiting to be retrieved.

Kerri Farley said...

My fingers are crossed that all goes well!

Caroline said...

OMG...shit. Been there. And recently too. As you know this summer my computer died and I said farewell to many photos I did not back up. The good thing is...you will take more photos.

Still...I am sorry for your loss...

((hugs))girl!!!

Jan's camera said...

Kate, sorry to hear about this. I would be very upset if and when it happens to me and now of course I am thinking about my external hard drive. There seems to be no place where digital photos are safe. I have 30 years worth of negatives and photos stored in my closet. I know it sounds silly but they are all still there and intact. I love digital but am very insecure about how long they will last. I guess I will start printing some out. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.