Laptop woes

[KageRyu]

@Kerya , Chris and I used to work together on many projects, though we've drifted apart in recent years (entirely my own fault). Most of the content I am truly worried about is that which the creators did not transfer anywhere else, or even have left the community (far too many).

 

[KageRyu]

I have finished recovery of all of my purchased content. No errors were reported by the software used to copy the programs, though as I mentioned earlier this does not guarantee the files are not corrupted. I have only fully tested 1 directory, and all of the archives were error free, so I am hopeful. Now I am moving on to trying to recover the rest of the content on that partition (my working projects are next, then commercial audio libraries, then stock images, etc... nearly 3/4 of a terabyte in all).
Then I have anothe whole partition to do, which I already know is corrupted. My master poser runtime is a loss already - so once the recovery is done I need to reinstall everything before I get back to work.

 

[Kerya]

Holding thumbs and crossing fingers!

 

[KageRyu]

Getting close to finished with the work partition, only a few folders left. I should be done in the next few days.
Before trying to recover the master runtime partition I intend to copy out my development runtime (different HD all together thankfully) and install bare bones installs of Poser 2012, 2014, and 11 on this laptop and try to finish some of the Dusk/Dawn sets I had hoped to have in the summer. Working on this laptop is not ideal (it is old...and already has issues, the screen is small, and no mouse only a not so great touchpad). I may need help with promos as I will not be able to install all of the content needed for good promos. I will certainly need some beta testers when I reach that point.

The workstation will likely be down for another month or two, and even when back up will be short 2tb in HD space. Though I intend to store most of what had been on that drive on external drives now, that old WinXP workstation sometimes has issues losing external drives.

I need the probelms with this house resolved so I can move and actually set up my computer lab again, and maybe get some new machines. No point getting them when there is no where to set them up.

 

[KageRyu]

Copying of the Work partition is finished. The software only reported 1 corrupted file and that was a thumbnail. I still need to test the files I can to insure they weren't damaged before copying...that's going to take a while. I will focus on irreplaceable files first.

Now to see what can be saved from the content partition...the one I know has file damage.

 

[Kerya]

At least you are able to rescue some files - I am crossing my fingers for the rest!

 

[KageRyu]

The newest backup I could locate is from 2020, but I also have 3 USB hard drives unaccounted for (so much still boxed up in storage and inaccessible).
All attempts to make drive images of the bad drive have failed using the software tools available to me.
As of today, none of my tools even recognize the drive or partitions - so at this time there can be no further recovery attempts. The physical drive still identifies in Bios and setup, but Windows no longer recognizes it, nor do any of my boot CDs or tools. Additionally, the machine in question will no longer boot from it's own system HD which is a separate drive completely - so it may also be developing issues (both drive purchased at the same time, so it is likely).
I have no other computer with sufficient HD space to install sufficient materials too in order to get back to art or work - nor can I get HDs readily as my newest machine is over 8 years old. Even if I had a new machine I really still do not have room to set it up given the state of this house, which is not going to change as long as ownership and the estate are still tied up in court.

I am at a loss. With my physical health deteriorating and all of the other issues I have to deal with this is just too much to deal with.

Additionally, unless I can get a product ready in the next week or so I may be losing my Renderosity store for being inactive, and I have no way to work on product without a workstation and my development files. This laptop just isn't up to it. Let alone not being in a mindset conducive to creativity.

Moving has been nothing but a disaster and only led me to ruin.

 

[KageRyu]

It looks like I can get some WD Blue SATA internal 2TB drives for about $50. I really do not want to, but I can use my CC to get them. Right now I am thinking of pulling all of the drives out of my workstation, run some system board and memory diagnostics to make sure it's not damaged, taking it to a local store to get the inside complete cleaned and dusted out, then cloning the existing OS and work partition to a brand new drive before that one fails, see if it boots again. Then I can connect the damaged drive to a different machine if I can make room to set one up and run a full surface diagnostic hopefully. Meanwhile I will also install a second new HD in the old workstation and reinstall what I can of my Poser Runtimes and surviving graphics files to get back to work. This will likely keep me down for the next 2-3 weeks no matter what. It will likely cost between $150-200 to do. I am just trying to decide if it's worth it or not. I would like to keep this Quad Core functioning if I can. No matter what, even if I want to dig out and use one of my more powerful machines as a workstation (not doing any good as render engines in storage) I would need larger HDs and they also use SATA so $100-200 either way.

Thoughts anyone?

Been trying to do what I can to at least organize this house if not disposing of my dad's things while the estate issues are still ongoing but this is killing me. It's like my life's been on hold these past years except it hasn't been - still having to deal with all the problems, just haven't been able to do any of what I enjoy.

 

[Kerya]

Sorry - no thoughts, just sending you hugs.

 

[DanaTA]

It looks like I can get some WD Blue SATA internal 2TB drives for about $50. I really do not want to, but I can use my CC to get them. Right now I am thinking of pulling all of the drives out of my workstation, run some system board and memory diagnostics to make sure it's not damaged, taking it to a local store to get the inside complete cleaned and dusted out, then cloning the existing OS and work partition to a brand new drive before that one fails, see if it boots again. Then I can connect the damaged drive to a different machine if I can make room to set one up and run a full surface diagnostic hopefully. Meanwhile I will also install a second new HD in the old workstation and reinstall what I can of my Poser Runtimes and surviving graphics files to get back to work. This will likely keep me down for the next 2-3 weeks no matter what. It will likely cost between $150-200 to do. I am just trying to decide if it's worth it or not. I would like to keep this Quad Core functioning if I can. No matter what, even if I want to dig out and use one of my more powerful machines as a workstation (not doing any good as render engines in storage) I would need larger HDs and they also use SATA so $100-200 either way.

Thoughts anyone?

Been trying to do what I can to at least organize this house if not disposing of my dad's things while the estate issues are still ongoing but this is killing me. It's like my life's been on hold these past years except it hasn't been - still having to deal with all the problems, just haven't been able to do any of what I enjoy.

Have you considered sending your drives to a business that specializes in data recovery? Once, a friend used a CD boot disc of UNIX (maybe Ubuntu, can't remember) to boot the computer and then rescue files from the hard drive, then did a full format and installed Windows again. He saved a lot of data that way. But I can't tell you exactly what he did. He was in that field, I just let him do his thing.

Dana

 

[KageRyu]

I can not afford the expense of a data recovery company. Some of the software I am using is the same those types of businesses would use anyway, though admittedly much older versions than they would likely have. I have already been using boot disks to boot, but now those tools wont even see the damaged drive to allow any work on it.

 

[DanaTA]

I can not afford the expense of a data recovery company. Some of the software I am using is the same those types of businesses would use anyway, though admittedly much older versions than they would likely have. I have already been using boot disks to boot, but now those tools wont even see the damaged drive to allow any work on it.

Think of all you've got to lose. The more you run these tools, the more the drive will degrade. It's up to you, but I think these tools that are available to us are not as good as the ones the specialists use. And they know tricks to use them that we don't know, which makes the results they get more likely to be successful. I'm sorry, I have no other suggestions. I wish you well.

Dana

 

[KageRyu]

I am aware of what I have lost, but it does not change the fact I do not have, nor can I justify spending $3000 or more on Hard Drive data recovery when I have so many more urgent monetary issue in my life that are a question of keeping a roof over my head and having heat for the winter. I have confirmed beyond any doubt that it is a mechanical failure of the drive (motor, spindle, heads) which would require disassembling the drive in a clean room and replacing parts with those from a donor drive (I do not have a clean room, the proper tools, or donor drives). For this sort of repair Data recovery centers charge by the hour at exorbitant rates. Having worked at a repair shop in 2009-2012 I have dealt with data recovery companies and am familiar with the procedures and costs. While it is something I could try myself if I had the physical tools, I am weary of attempting it outside of a clean room.

I have confirmed many of my scene files I was concerned about were successfully salvaged. A few will not load because content is missing from the lost runtime (including some custom content not replaceable). I have recovered my Dusk and Dawn development files and runtimes, and my production and beta runtimes. I will try to word on finishing off some Dusk and Dawn content I had in development once I have a new HD (expected delivery is the 26th ).

 

[KageRyu]

The drives arrived early, but they are not what was described on Amazon's product page. So very fed up with online marketplaces and bait and switch tactics.