[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] question re failing external hard drive; any suggestions?

[Denise]

Hi all,

thanks to everyone who responded! I’ve been replying individually to all. all very helpful!! : )

denise

 

From: Robert Primak <bobprimak at yahoo.com> 
Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2021 9:19 PM
To: Denise <denise at rcn.com>; Evie <et8686 at gmail.com>
Cc: lctg at lists.toku.us
Subject: Re: [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] question re failing external hard drive; any suggestions?

 

Power surges are one more reason that if you keep an external hard drive or SSD connected to the computer and powered on all the time, this drive should not be considered a backup drive. This applies especially to Windows File History dedicated drives. 

 

-- Bob Primak

 

 

On Saturday, November 20, 2021, 02:22:35 PM EST, Evie <et8686 at gmail.com <mailto:et8686 at gmail.com> > wrote: 

 

 

Hi Denise, 

 

Also... to protect your data and computer/network devices going forward:

Always have a backup/restore strategy and plan; such as backup your data to external HDDs or pay to store your data remotely.

You may also consider having an "UPS, Battery Backup & Surge Protector" device to protect all your computer/network devices, thus, data. 

UPS is an Uninterruptible Power Supply. In case of a sudden power outage, power surge/spike, etc., which may damage your computer or HDDs, and may cause data loss, https://www.groovypost.com/unplugged/why-you-need-uninterruptible-power-supply-pc/. 

Good reading on this topic, Top 6 Data Loss Causes and Top 10 Preventions, https://www.novabackup.com/blog/top-6-data-loss-causes-and-top-10-preventions.





I lost my external HDD/data after a severe thunderstorm many moons ago, luckily, I backed up the data and was able to restore the data. We have also bought UPS to protect our computers/HDDs/network devices since. 

Evie

 

On Fri, Nov 19, 2021 at 11:06 PM Robert Primak <bobprimak at yahoo.com <mailto:bobprimak at yahoo.com> > wrote:

In Windows, I'd use File History, since it's built into Windows. 

 

Duplicating onto a second drive is more of a copy/paste operation, unless the daily volume of changes is massive. I copy/paste entire Folders in both Windows and Linux. A lot of my daily volume is email downloads.  

 

-- Bob Primak

 

 

On Friday, November 19, 2021, 09:52:46 PM EST, Steve Parus <sparus at umich.edu <mailto:sparus at umich.edu> > wrote: 

 

 

FreeFileSync is one software tool that can keep the two backup drives files duplicate copies of each other. Lots of options and configuration possibilities.  Windows, macOS and Linux.  

 

Steve Parus





On Nov 19, 2021, at 6:59 PM, Robert Primak <bobprimak at yahoo.com <mailto:bobprimak at yahoo.com> > wrote:

Even if the drive is giving the "click of death" it may be able to give up its data if it is coaxed. But if Windows can't even see the drive, I'm pretty sure it won't be able to recover the data.

 

Just a reminder for next time -- get two external hard drives and make one a copy of the other. It's unlikely two drives will fail at the same time. 

 

Personally, I'm a bit paranoid/OCD. I have everything saved in triplicate externally and in duplicate internally (two separate partitions). I also use two or more operating systems -- three Linux at present, and Windows 10 Pro. The multi-Linux OS drive is external. And then there's my Chromebook, which also has a Linux on it. And several SD Cards for data. My Android phone also has an internal extra SD Card. And Cloud Backup. 

 

Data recovery services are expensive. but if what's on the external drive is really valuable to you, consider this option. And DON'T USE THE DRIVE if you want to recover the data.

 

-- Bob Primak 

Hi all.

I hope someone has a suggestion : )

My daughter has a windows 10 p.c. desktop; and she plugged in an HDD external hard drive (that has a USB cable on one end & power plug on the other end) into her p.c. and apparently the HDD is dying (or dead?)

She plugged it in and hears a noise. And when she goes to ‘my computer’ it’s not seen there.

should we be looking to hire a data recovery person?

or is there anything we can do with this?

any suggestions on what to do next?

thanks!

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