Oolite Bulletins

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Last week my computer suffered a fatal error, namely me.

While cleaning out the trumbles from the hardware, I decided that whilst I already had the case open and needed space to get to the fluffy things, I remove my raid configuration and move them into silenced-coolers that had had their designation on them for quite a while.
Rebooting, these drives were no longer visible...the raid was, but the drives were inaccessible.
After a while of swapping connectors, rebooting bios, I accidentally changed one of my disks to dynamic, deleting all data and breaking the raid.
Now I decide to install an old IDE disk lying around and install a fresh OS install. this boots up wonderfully. but my raid is still unaccessible.
Only at this point do I decide that I am not doing well and decide to read up on raid repair etc.
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a week of trying to salvage what I believed was a mirrored stripe array, but retrieving only partial files.
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Turns out it was not mirrored and switching one of the disks to dynamic and back corrupted all data.

Now in the process of setting up all essential drivers and utilities for a safe and usable desktop.

I am sorry to inform you all, that all my data is lost including all work done on oxps (except those materials posted online) and my research paper (latest copy three weeks old in online mailbox).


Irony has it, that I was just in the middle of a large backup operation, but was following a fifo related system.

Arexack
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Arexack_Heretic wrote:

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Last week my computer suffered a fatal error, namely me.
Turns out it was not mirrored and switching one of the disks to dynamic and back corrupted all data.
I am sorry to inform you all, that all my data is lost including all work done on oxps (except those materials posted online) and my research paper (latest copy three weeks old in online mailbox).

Happens to the best. It happened even to me!... You have my respects anyway.

Irony has it, that I was just in the middle of a large backup operation, but was following a fifo related system.

First In First Out logistics? Instead of FIFO, I usually use the FIFA system - I keep kicking it forward!

We've all been there.

As I have said before, the amount of backups you do is proportional to the amount of data you have previously lost.

Very sorry for you, Arexack!

In my case this is generally the moment when I decide that it's time to give a final salute to all my old data, buy a brand new computer and start anew. (Happened only once or twice so far ). As blank as a new-born child. Tabula rasa.

Furthermore it is my firm belief that this is the reason why in let's say 1000 or 2000 years archeologists will know less about our era than about any period before. Let's face it: While we rely on our computers we are going to become a species without a collective memory sooner or later.

For anybody using linux, let me recommend backuppc. You set it to run automatically and Bob's your uncle. It backs up to hard discs, not tape or optical media.

Ideally have one machine backup the others. Otherwise backup locally to a different hard disc. You don't need much space because the prog:
1. compresses files
2. when performing incremental backups uses a very clever system to minimise space usage.

For Windows the best I've found is "Backup made Simple" from Willow Creek Software. Free 30 day evaluation available.

I usually kept most stuff backed up by making sure both my laptop and desktop had the same stuff on them, which was fine in the past, but I've moved to France now and only have the laptop with me. Oh well, better just keep my fingers crossed.

This morning I was looking at the prices of Hard Discs. Prices are nowadays very low.

A 20GB ATA drive plus a USB adapter is going to cost less than €75.

Peace of mind

Bonjour Helvellyn, nice to see a someone else here who lives in France. Whereabouts are you?

lolwhites wrote:

Bonjour Helvellyn, nice to see a someone else here who lives in France. Whereabouts are you?

Near Cannes (inland a bit, edge of Grasse). No bonjour, please, I'm struggling rather badly learning French! I suppose you could argue that I'm not putting enough effort in, since I did none of the homework I was given when I went back to the UK for a month, but I don't want to feel I was back at school, so ignored it

I'm probably here until the end of next April, then back in the UK.

I'm just outside Paris myself, what I'd give to be on the Côte d'Azur (sighs). Don't give up with the French! You can go a long way in six months.

Nah, it's too hot here, and lounging around on the beach is dull. On the other hand, it's not too far to get out into the mountains, which is good (off next weekend, staying overnight in some place right up high). And I'm getting a bit too used to having a pool in the garden. On the down side, there's a railway line right next to the house, but that's surprisingly easy to get used to.

For the $%^^%!!!

Runnning a spyware gizmo has destroyed my OS.!!!
again!
gaaaaerghrhlsrgggg...


(I am considdering subscribing to the zmbie-legion ... bastard spysweeper creeps.)

Can you give details? Maybe there is a way to recover.

Sorry again for you!!!

(Perhaps it's time to vote for a change? )

didn't make a recvery disc, lost my admin password.