My computer crashed yesterday, I'm having a terrible day, think I'll have a breakdown too.They're not sure they can save everything.I'm so worried I will lose the important stuff. Woe is me...Rob

oh dear, I am sooooo sorry. There is one thing we can be sure of though. If we have a computer, it WILL crash some day so, back up, backup, then BACKUP! Rob I hope a magic nerdie comes along and retrieves all of your important data. I'm from the south of the US and here we say, "Bless your heart darlin'" Here's a rose for you. ;)

4 comments

by ravyn 31 Jan 2008

'Bless your heart!!!' -- oh my, where are you from, Jrob?? I'm in Alabama right now (but I'm NOT from here!) I'm from central Florida & we are NOT 'southerners' down there! So, it really tickles me to hear all the 'southern slang' that is so prevalent here! The first time hubby used the phrase 'finer than frog-hair', I thought I'd lose it laughing!!! But I'll second your sentiments, 'Bless your heart!' Rob & you got a flower from me too!

by dlonnahawkins 31 Jan 2008

Ravyn, we Floridians - well, most of us, don't talk "Southern" do we? I too am from Central Florida - about 20 miles from Daytona.

by sewpretty 01 Feb 2008

I love the southern accent and sayings, they're so cute & we have never heard many of them, so you can say them as often as you like...Rob from downunder.

by sewpretty 01 Feb 2008

Flowers for everyone. Thanks again...Rob.

If it's just a "system crash" -- in other words, your computer won't boot up because windows got mucked up somehow - you can definitely get your data back. Everything is still there on the drive. You need to get it (the hard drive) hooked to a working system in whatever way is most convenient for you & then you'll be able to just copy all your files off it. Don't format it or do anything that would write to the drive at all - just access it from another computer & copy all your goodies first. If you do anything that writes to the drive in the meantime, you could possibly lose some data - all you need to do is access the data that's on there. You can get 'external hard drive kits' that let you pop a hard drive in a enclosure, then it plugs into a computer through the USB port - they cost around $30 or so. Take the hard drive out of the computer it's in & use the kit to hook it to another computer. Then just copy all your stuff off the 'messed-up' drive. Then you can reformat the 'bad' drive & reinstall windows etc, or do whatever is needed to get the 'bad' drive up & going again. In the future, if you partition your hard drive, you can have your system "crash" like this, and not lose anything - you can reformat C & not have to worry about retrieving data off the drive first. Just keep all personal stuff off of C in the future & put it on other partitions - it makes it so much easier if your system "crashes" like this. GOOD LUCK!!! But don't have a breakdown! As long as the hard drive is mechanically functional - in other words, if the hard drive itself is getting power but it just won't boot up - you'll be OK - you just need to get access to the files that are on it. Lots of different ways to do that - but about the easiest DIY way is to use an external drive kit. (( HUGS )) & good luck!

5 comments

by ravyn 31 Jan 2008

And if you go to remove the drive yourself, *ground your hands* before handling it! You don't want any minute bit of static electricity on your body to hit the drive's circuit board (or other components of your system) And after you get things straightened all up, backup, backup, backup on a regular basis!!!

by ruthie 31 Jan 2008

Good answer Ravyn - sounds like the voice of experience - no offence meant and I know you'll take none. So pleased to see you again. Flowers for you and jrob, I've already given Rob one.

by wendymay60 01 Feb 2008

Copy all your designs etc onto an external drive, then keep a backup on disks. this way it is easy to keep 'Cute' designs together, Amazing on another disk etc,.

by sewpretty 01 Feb 2008

Ravyn, thank you for such detailed advice. I am going to print and keep that for future reference if needed. I would try if if I thought I had the confidence. Thank you all for your kind words, flowers and advice. I normally do regular backups & had thought about it the day before the crash but didn't get around to it so goes to show make sure you do it when you think of if. I have now bought an external hard drive and that should make it easier for me. Thanks again...Rob. (It's short for Robyn, everyone just usually calls me Rob).

by shirlener88 28 Mar 2008

Yes, very good.

Rob, so, so sorry for you, what a gut-wrenching feeling it is to suddenly realise all your hours, even days/weeks/months of work/collecting/info etc has just simply vanished into thin air. Ravyn had problems and lost her *goodies* a few days ago. You might find it interesting to read her Q&A, it starts - *An urgent reminder for everyone here - please read below!!!* Mumra wrote "If it is not too late - there is a program which can retrieve all your files when you have had a meltdown ... the program is rd-studio and is not that expensive - around $60." It might be worth looking into before you have that *breakdown*! Hope everything works out for you, and if you need help with things like web addresses, just yell, we'll hear and help all we can. I know it's small consolation but here's a flower.

1 comment

by sewpretty 01 Feb 2008

Ruthie, thanks so much for the program info. I am going to save that for future reference also.
Sending flowers to everyone for giving me such great advice....Thanks Rob.