Image Backup

[jjeling]

If my luck could get worse, it probably will.
First, my desktop computer crashed. Along with it was PS CS3. It is no fun trying to edit pictures with a laptop pad. Although the USB mice help
Second, my laptop screen broke, so now its plugged into a desktop monitor. So I use a laptop keyboard but have to look to the side at a different desktop monitor.
Third, camera falls to an untimely tragedy and loses its weather sealing and auto focusing functions.
NOW, my brothers dog ran by my computer and pulled the external hard drive off the table and it has been rendered useless. 10,000+ pictures and 9,000+ plus songs.
Another external hard drive had about half of the music and pictures backed up so its not a total loss. Many of the pictures that were lost are still up on flickr. Was wondering if anyone knows of a batch download process for your images. Its possible to do a batch upload, but wondered if the reverse is possible?

[Wicked Dark]

that totally sucks. I've been contemplating using SmugMug's vault service.

But you should check into drive recovery services. More than likely the actual platters are not damaged, just the read/write mechanism and/or the power supply. The data is probably retrievable.

[AntZ]

What methods have you tried to recover the drive?
I have only heard good things about this software. GRC|Hard drive data recovery software Apparently it can take up to days to repair a drive. Not sure if it works for USB..If not you should be able to make it a local drive with the right cables. Its not cheap, $80 similar to a new drive, but if you have data you need to recover I'd give it a shot. I believe they have a "No questions money back" guarantee, so not too much to lose.

As for your actual question, I found a desktop uploader. It might also allow download.

Flickr: Tools to upload and share

[Iguanasan]

Wow! Man, you should buy a lottery ticket. It can't possibly get any worse!

[jjeling]

I decided to waste the drive. Took it apart and destroyed the discs. Information has been rendered unrecoverable. I had the majority of backed up so its not a major worry. Having extra hard drives laying around really helps that issue.

I guess this is a friendly reminder to myself and anyone with these devices that they are not indestructable. It pays to keep things backed up in more than one place.

[Fortytwo]

I've had many types of back-up stuff over the years. I started out with tapes. They sucked big time, but did the job. Then I switched to optical discs which were much better but costs a small fortune. Recently I've stuck to burning DVD's and hard drives. It's ok, but DVD's don't last forever (10 years if treated correctly) and hard drives, well...

It helps if you treat your hardddrive well. Most people let them run to hot. Most stuff in the computer is cooled nowadays. CPU, GPU, memory, north bridge, ect. But the harddrives are sandwiched together in a little corner with no fresh air. No wonder the fail. I've got mine is drive bay with three fans each. I've never had a HD fail, including some that are currently at the respectable age of 20 years. It's not a replacement for back-ups, but it does help a lot.

I'm thinking of buying a NAS for storing my photo's. It seems a very safe and reliable way of adding storage of such things. It's an investment, but I think it's worth it...

[Bambi]

42- what's a NAS?

[Wicked Dark]

Network Attached Storage. Basically a network RAID system as opposed to one attached via USB directly to a PC.

[Fortytwo]

Indeed. Tnx wicked.

More info here:
Network-attached storage - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They've grown quite the thing here. Lots of people buy them...

[AntZ]

The HDD in my Western Digital NAS just died after about 2 years. I didn't actually lose any data as it was an overheating problem and if I turned it off for a while it would work for a few hrs. Long enough for me to get the data off. When I first realised it was an overheating problem I thought the fan was bust or dirty, but when I pulled it apart there was no fan and the drive was HOT to touch.