Apocalypse now...
by Radoslaw Marcin Kurczewski · 05/10/2007 (1:00 am) · 12 comments
I know it happens but it hurt quite badly anyway. I got my hard drive busted. Some files have been archived but some of them- actually almost all made during last two years, mostly "private" ones like galeon ship from previous blog entry or anime characters for games are lost without any hope. Good thing in entire affair is fact that none of my customers got hurt (I am enjoying what you can call "vacations") but still- it was a bad day. Now I got to wait for Autodesk to renew my licenses (had to buy new computer), install all 2d/3d applications (not to mention resetting all gaming engines editors and texture libraries). Royal pain.
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#2
05/10/2007 (2:20 am)
Ouch, thats why I always back up and use an SVN server for dual backup. How were the customers not hurt, you have that data on backup?
#3
[url="http://ghost.radified.com/"]Radified Guide to Norton Ghost[/url]
[url="http://radified.com/Articles/laptop.htm"]Laptop / Notebook Configuration Guide[/url]
I use both ghost2003 and TrueImage 9. From the research I've done, ghost2003 is the most stable (runs in DOS) while TrueImage9 (or 10) is the best Windows solution. The strategies can be applied to either. I now have a system with images where even if my drive or system gets totally hosed, I can be up and running from an image in 5 minutes. I can even swap out images back and forth. My computer also runs *way* faster, since XP is kept really clean.
I highly recommend checking some of this out if you are looking for a backup solution.
05/10/2007 (2:26 am)
Check out this awesome website with great backup strategies:[url="http://ghost.radified.com/"]Radified Guide to Norton Ghost[/url]
[url="http://radified.com/Articles/laptop.htm"]Laptop / Notebook Configuration Guide[/url]
I use both ghost2003 and TrueImage 9. From the research I've done, ghost2003 is the most stable (runs in DOS) while TrueImage9 (or 10) is the best Windows solution. The strategies can be applied to either. I now have a system with images where even if my drive or system gets totally hosed, I can be up and running from an image in 5 minutes. I can even swap out images back and forth. My computer also runs *way* faster, since XP is kept really clean.
I highly recommend checking some of this out if you are looking for a backup solution.
#4
People (not necessarily saying this it your case) find it hard to backup because they think it's boring, don't have compact and structured files or haven't experienced serious data lost, but I always enjoy the backing up process because I always imagine losing the last 10hours of smart work I've done and having to do it all over again! No thanks! ;)
There are hard drives on the market now with auto /schedule backup systems like the Buffalo LS-500GL 250/500GB Linkstation if I remember rightly...
Anyhow, sorry to hear about your lost :0( (man, that sounds like its a person or something!)
05/10/2007 (7:56 am)
Boy that does suck, it's happened to me (as well as many other people) a few times too, but I learned after a while, keep files compact and structured (not too many different places and easy to find) and backup at least 2 versions of important (I don't want to do that again) materials at least every month (or sooner for things like active projects/products), off site is a good idea too in case of fire or something crazy.People (not necessarily saying this it your case) find it hard to backup because they think it's boring, don't have compact and structured files or haven't experienced serious data lost, but I always enjoy the backing up process because I always imagine losing the last 10hours of smart work I've done and having to do it all over again! No thanks! ;)
There are hard drives on the market now with auto /schedule backup systems like the Buffalo LS-500GL 250/500GB Linkstation if I remember rightly...
Anyhow, sorry to hear about your lost :0( (man, that sounds like its a person or something!)
#5
05/10/2007 (9:57 am)
I backup, if you call developing on a Macbook and a PC simultaneously, therefore having a working copy of the game on both systems, a backup...
#6
Once again- thanks for good words and for me it's time to get on tracks again.
05/10/2007 (1:03 pm)
Thanks for good advices guys- I can't even count how many time I gave similar ones to my friends. Unfortunately this time I've been caught with pants down. I am usually keeping all data on storage drives, copying on "working" drive ones that are necessary for tasks at hand but years of smooth work made me lazy and that's effect. Nobody's else fault but mine- I can't even blame operating system we all love so much...Once again- thanks for good words and for me it's time to get on tracks again.
#7
I've learned my lesson.
05/10/2007 (1:17 pm)
I was working on a php game (still am), and most of the files were stored on my jump-drive. I worked on it whenever I got a chance. One day the drive ceased to function. All of my documentation, ideas,to-do's, and notes to myself were lost. Luckily I had the updated code up on the server, and didn't lose that. I've learned my lesson.
#8
05/10/2007 (2:04 pm)
I own a program called GetDataBack (windows). I've had several hard drives crash on me and this program was able to read the drive and recover the files I needed. There's other programs like this out there also, so you can shop around. There's also a demo that lets you see if you will be able to recover the files or not. 
#9
05/10/2007 (5:26 pm)
I Feel Your Pain. 'Nuff said. :-) Someday you'll back on this and laugh. Maybe.
#10
05/10/2007 (7:09 pm)
SVN, SVN, SVN:) Totally sweet once you get used to it. Version control sweetness - gratis. 
#11
05/10/2007 (9:09 pm)
Sucks. If you've got the cash, there is almost always a way to get your data back though. Send it in to a hard drive recovery place and be prepared to spend at least $600 USD approx. and they will likely get it all back for you.
#12
The good: It's free! and it works well.
The Bad: You need to have a running windows system to do a restore. So if you decide to use DriveImage you will need to create yourself a BartPE windows boot CD in case you ever need to restore.
05/11/2007 (5:16 pm)
If you are looking for a great and FREE program, try DriveImage XML from Runtime Software (http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm)The good: It's free! and it works well.
The Bad: You need to have a running windows system to do a restore. So if you decide to use DriveImage you will need to create yourself a BartPE windows boot CD in case you ever need to restore.
Torque Owner Andy Hawkins