My have lost it all!!!!!

[jenclark]

I'm having the Doctor come over to help me...........it's the computer Doctor.....he may have to do surgery.:(

Yesterday I opened bridge in photoshop and only 2 folders would actually show photos. I couln't figure that out so I closed bridge and continue to use elements to view my pictures. I don't know it that had anything to do with my problems but it was strange. Does bridge change files to view them and or are they different than in elements?

Well, today I booted my computer up as usual and I get the black screen saying FAT32 type file and 4 files were not readable.:eek: It also said it recommend I do the scan so I did. It also said disk needs to be checked for consistency. IT FOUND NOTHING WRONG!!!!! I looked in my photo file on my G drive and the 4 files noted on the black screen were not there.

I shut it down rebooted, same thing with a little twist. Now to beat all I have 2 Western Digital Hard Drives that have worked great for months.........they don't show up at all. When I reboot the computer I hear them start up like normal then they shut down and restart like they have been turned off then on and I have not done anything to them. My computer just doesn't see them. I tried flash drives and they are ok but not my big drives.

Dr. said not to do anything and wait for him...........Do you think I have lost all my photos?????? I'm going nuts:confused:

Anyone else have issues like these or is this a one time Jen thing?

[genevh]

I doubt you lost the files on your EHD's. It could be any number of things, but whatever it is has to do with your PC not being able to boot up. Could be hardware or S/W. Let the DR do his work. The PC not being able to see the EHD's most likely is related to why it won't boot.

[jenclark]

I have not had a chance to try either drive on my other computer. Dr. told me not to do anything and I think this time I will listen. Hope he comes over today to see what my issue is.

I can never find a computer that works for me no matter how hard I search. I totally lost without one so I know I have to make due but this is getting ridiculous:( Not to mention that I'm totally addicted to photoshop and this forum.

Thanks for the help. I will keep you posted on what happens and if I truely lost everything, will y'all come visit me in my round padded room???:p

[jenclark]

Gene,

Thanks Gene, just to clear things up if I'm understanding you correctly. The computer boots up fine, especially without the first drive attached, it's much faster. Now I'm having the rebooting issue of the 2nd EHD and the computer doesn't see it.........computer seems fine but I could be wrong. After this I will be backing everything up that I had not had a chance to do prior to this...........if its still there. I'm so scared because I only have 2 years backed up and 4 years still hanging out there.:(

I doubt you lost the files on your EHD's. It could be any number of things, but whatever it is has to do with your PC not being able to boot up. Could be hardware or S/W. Let the DR do his work. The PC not being able to see the EHD's most likely is related to why it won't boot.

[jenclark]

small update...........can someone ease my fears????

Took Western Digital Hard Drive to my other computer...Dr. asked me to and it showed on the bottom right that it installed but it never showed up under My Computer. I ejected it and tried again and got the same results. Do you think I have lost all my photos/programs/plugins/etc on this drive???

I have to give it to the Dr. this afternoon but I'm just sitting here thinking and thinking and it's driving me crazy to think I have lost it all............?????:(

[Chuck S.]

Jen, Western Digital has data recovery utilities that are probably on a CD that was packaged with the drive(s). You may want to dig out that CD and take it with you when you visit the Dr. There's hope yet....

[jenclark]

Thanks Chuck,

I will try to find that but I don't seem to remember one. I'm in a fog so I will look anyway. All morning I have been going thru all I have on that drive. Years of photos, photo creations, digital scrapbooking downloads, templates and my embroidery designs, Gig's of those!!!!

If this is saved you can bet that I will spend the rest of my time burning everything to a disk...........I'm just so sick thinking about this.......:(

[Chuck S.]

Jen, Western Digital may have the utilities on their website. Otherwise, I'll mail you my disk if all else fails.

[jenclark]

Thanks Chuck, I really appreciate that. I just dropped the drive off and she told me that he has fixed many drives that were thought to be long gone.........I'm hoping that is the case here.

I will keep you posed. Cross your fingers/legs/hands/arms/toes/eyes and whatever else you can cross for me. :eek:

I will let you know soon...........thanks again.

[genevh]

My bad....somehow I got the impression when I wrote my post that the PC wasn't booting up, not that the hard drives weren't just showing up. Sorry about that. But, like Chuck said, there are tools available to recover data on seemingly bad hard drives, so they should be able to recover. I just went through that with my laptop at work where it wouldn't boot up because of a bad hard drive and they were able to recover all my stuff.

Hang in there!

[jenclark]

I'm trying to hang in Gene but this is torture. My daughter just circled the kitchen/living room with her dance of joy that I didn't download her pictures off her camera yet............boy do those kids really know how to push buttons:o (shhhh I was glad for her also, just don't tell her that)

Doc has not called me back yet so I still don't know. My plan is to buy another EHD and use that as backup only for photos/music/etc plus do Smugmug.

I will keep a glimmer of hope like you and Chuck said.;) I hope that if there is data recover it doesn't cost the amount that I have seen for some online services that Western Digital recommended. I believe that the cost for my drive of 320 and only used 174 gb would be around $495.00:eek: My guy wouldn't do that to me but still.........yikes. I never realized that it would cost that much.

Thanks for your support.......I keep posting trying to keep my mind off things. Geeezzzzz I must be retarded!!!

[Chuck S.]

Jen, hoping for the best.

I'm not recommending this, but here's an example of a software solution that's not as expensive as the data recovery service:

Recover My Files (http://www.recovermyfiles.com/)

Maybe someone has some experience with this....

[jenclark]

I have it under my favorites and in the event that my computer DR can't do anything I may just give that a shot..........what would I have to lose at that point, right?

I appreciate your help. I'm hoping for the best too. Even going so far as to do the recovery dance and let me tell you..............IT IS NOT A PRETTY THING...........:p

[Wags374]

I feel for you Jen - having had a similar thing happen to me a few months ago. After that "near death" experience I signed on with Carobnite for on-line 24/7 back-up. Backs up pretty much anything you point it at expect EHD's (although a rep from their site said that EHD back-up is coming soon.). The peace of mind I have knowing my pictures, creations, actions etc are backed up within minutes with no effort on my part is well worth the $50 a year.

Hopefully the Doc will be able to recover everything for you for a reasonable fee.

[jenclark]

Hopefully the Doc will be able to recover everything for you for a reasonable fee.

Me too..........still waiting.:(

I will also go to carbonite and check it out, thanks for the info. I plan on the smugmug site because I hope to be able to sell my sports photos next year. Not to beat this to death but overkill on backups is my new way of life...........:o

[jenclark]

I'm sooo upset. Dr. called and I lost it all, the drive is dead.

He is giving me a list of recovery companies where he thinks that I can talk to them about possibly getting all my data back but it's very expensive. He said it starts out at about $300 and goes up. Labor intense so that is why the high cost. I'm devastated.............need to go hide in a sound proof padded room a cuss the world out and myself for that matter.

That was a Western Digital 320gb drive anyone suggest a better type for my start over????

[sarch99]

Did your DR. run Spin Rite on the drive? He probably did, but it's worth asking him. One of my daughters had a hard drive go bad on her, and it cost her $2,000 to retrieve her data.......pictures of her four kids taken over the past 10 years. She now wears belt and suspenders, for sure.

[NickLewis]

That was a Western Digital 320gb drive anyone suggest a better type for my start over????[/COLOR][/SIZE]Jen,

Seagate, Maxtor, La Cie - or indeed Western Digital. They are all entirely reputable suppliers. But I'm afraid no manufacturer's drives are bomb-proof. Any drive from any manufacturer could fail. Backups are the key.

Nick

[Hibe]

So sorry Jen ...:(

[jenclark]

Me too Hibe...........

Just for information incase y'all didn't know this and neither did i for that matter. Data recover is VERY EXPENSIVE. My quote today from 2 companies for just my photos......and that was about 3-4gb if I guessing was to the tune of $2700.00

Cripes that is crazy........so I'm forced to suck this one up as a learning experience.:( My husband, the fire fighter said your feeling exactly how people feel after a fire. (that would go for hurricanes/tornadoes/fires/theft/flood) it's a loss.

Please someone learn from me and back up everything........I'm going to be religious about it now.

This is my last post on the subject unless someone has questions or comments for me. I'm sorry to bother y'all with it but misery loves company and I was comforted here because y'all understand the value of our photos/plugins/layouts and time consuming, detailed, labor intensive work what we put into our photos.

On a good note, I did go to Western Digitals site and put in my S/N number and my drive popped up and I started the replacement action, it's being shipped now so maybe I can start over soon. I was rather impressed on how easy it is to get that going. I thought I would have problems, but I didn't

Sorry to bother y'all again but It's useful info to know on the cost of recovery.

[genevh]

I wouldn't give up on that. I've done some searching in Google on data recovery and you should be able to find someone to do the job for a lot less. Unfortunately, I've never had to use a data recovery service, so I can't make any recommendations here, but depending on the nature of the hard drive failure itself, should not cost $2700. Granted, you aren't going to get it for $100 either, but based on the prices I am seeing, under $1000 should be achievable. Hopefully someone can recommend a service that they have used. Several of the sites I looked at you can submit your problem via email and they will give you an estimate on prices.

[sarch99]

Jen, I don't know where you are in Tennessee, but my daughter lived in Clarksville when her drive went bad. I'd be happy to get the name of the man who retrieved her data if you are interested. I believe he was in Nashville.

[jenclark]

I will keep looking for other places but I have already ordered the replacement from Western Digital and they shipped it today. I have 30 days to send mine in or they charge me...........I'm in a fog so I need a day or two to think.

Any contacts, even in Nashville, would be helpful. Thanks:o

[Benny Pedersen]

If you send me your HD, I could take a look on it ?

Benny

[sarch99]

Jen - my daughter just left for Rome yesterday, but she might check her e-mal while she's gone. I'll shoot her a message and ask her if she remembers who the man is. She'll only be gone a few days (they live in Europe and take frequent mini trips), so I should be able to get back with you on Tuesday if not sooner. S

[jenclark]

If you send me your HD, I could take a look on it ?

Benny

Benny, sorry it's taken me this long to get back to you I was out of town and arrived home yesterday in time to drop my bags and head out the door for my son't basketball game.

You are incredibly nice and I appreciate your help but I only have about 2+ weeks to get the crashed drive back to western digital or they charge me for the one that arrived yesterday. I"m not paying them another dime. I don't know it there is enought time to get it to you and back to WD.

[Benny Pedersen]

Benny, sorry it's taken me this long to get back to you I was out of town and arrived home yesterday in time to drop my bags and head out the door for my son't basketball game.

You are incredibly nice and I appreciate your help but I only have about 2+ weeks to get the crashed drive back to western digital or they charge me for the one that arrived yesterday. I"m not paying them another dime. I don't know it there is enought time to get it to you and back to WD.

Thats ok, I have posted so much that I can't follow up anyway :)

The send HD so long distance would also be a less good solution, anyhow not impossible...

Benny

[Jancy]

Oh so sorry to hear about your drive--that really is to bad. :(

[Benny Pedersen]

Oh so sorry to hear about your drive--that really is to bad. :(

Yes , thats very bad.

I tried it once but didn't losed stuff.
Now Im always clone my HD using Symantec Ghost from cdrom boot.

btw. Have one noticed my modifyid splashing avatar pict ?
I got that idea after I saw the sniffing dog :D

Benny