The folder on my computer that contained all of my research and publications . . . gone. Fourteen page paper I wrote in July . . . gone. Notes on new book I am writing . . . gone. Don’t know where it went or when it was deleted. Just gone . . . gone . . . gone . . .
Most recent backup was in June. Did a lot of new work in July. Now its gone. Bye, bye fresh ideas. Bye, bye research. Bye, bye paper for next year’s SBL. All gone.
On September 18th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
I simpathize with you, Kevin. This happened to me once. Only once in over a dozen years using computers, but I still remember full well how much I regretted it.
Just wanted to let you know…
Rubén Gómez
On September 18th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
That’s horrible! I had a similar experience many years ago and ever since then I make a cd of my important files every month- sometimes every 2 weeks. I’m completely paranoid about it. I wish you well….
On September 18th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
Did you check the Trashbin ?
Did you already use recovery tools, see
http://www.recovermyfiles.com
http://www.winundelete.com/
and
http://www.pctools.com/file-recover/
maybe it can recover some of your work.
On September 19th, 2006 at 12:13 am
Depending on how and when it was deleted there are many commercial tools available that can recover deleted files from your system. When your computer deletes files it doesn’t actually remove them instead it marks the “bucket” that contained the files as reusable. As long as the bucket has not been used since the deletion there is a good chance you can get some of your work back. Hope that helps.
On September 19th, 2006 at 3:12 am
Hey Kevin, I’m really sorry about that. I know it’s frustrating.
On September 19th, 2006 at 8:15 am
I am in the process of using some undelete tools. So far, I have found some files for papers and books that were already published. But the most important paper, one on the development of priestly theology from PT to Ezekiel to HS seems to have vanished completely. Not a trace of it anywhere.
On September 20th, 2006 at 4:42 am
Uh…. BUMMER! Hopefully you will be able to recover some of it!
Note to self: Do a back-up tonight!
On September 27th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
If only I had backed up….
I now use two backup methods: (1) nightly a backup program backs up to an external hard drive (check out Maxtor’s series of external h.d.s that come with backup software). (2) A couple of times a week I back up just my academic data (all my writing, notes, etc.) to an external website. My logic: if there was a fire, I’d lose my computer and my external hard drive, but my core data is somewhere else. There are a number of companies that provide this service. I use XDrive. Just some thoughts.
Bob.