Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Computer Crashes Needn't be Fatal
Newsweek ^ | November 29, 2008 | Daniel Lions

Posted on 12/03/2008 6:29:45 PM PST by smokingfrog

Backing up data is a pain in the neck. The only way to make people do it is to automate the process. Mozy does that.

Many of us have suffered a data-destroying computer crash. But some stories are better than others. Josh Diulio, a marketing exec from Monroe, Mich., left his HP laptop sitting on a ledge on the balcony of his apartment building while he ran inside to get a drink. When he came back a crow was perched on the open laptop. The crow, startled by Diulio, leaped up and away, tipping the laptop just enough that it fell seven stories to the street below—where, just for good luck, it was run over by passing cars. Then there's the tale of Duncan Mowatt, a graphic designer in Seattle, who was having trouble with an external hard drive. The cause was a mystery until one day Mowatt's girlfriend picked up the drive and saw thousands of ants and ant larvae pouring out of it. She freaked out (as one might) and threw the drive across the room, where it smashed into Mowatt's laptop and wiped out its hard drive, too.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Humor; Reference; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: ants; crow; dataloss; intrusion; mosy; privacy; recovery
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 next last
Do you have a strange, humorous, or fateful story about a computer failure or data loss? Post them here.
1 posted on 12/03/2008 6:29:45 PM PST by smokingfrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog

Some company in eastern Washington state makes laptops for like FBI and Treasury.

Showed a demo of a fellow. He turns it on, then holds it out at arms length.
Then drops it.

It has built in power down in case of shock, so he picks it up and hits the power button. Starts right up. No problems at all.


2 posted on 12/03/2008 6:34:21 PM PST by djf (...heard about a couple livin in the USA, he said they traded in their baby for a Chevrolet...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; Swordmaker; Malsua; HAL9000

ping


3 posted on 12/03/2008 6:34:43 PM PST by raybbr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog
I have Rollback RX installed on my computer. A power outage hosed most of my windows snapshots. Fortunately, I was able to boot back with the original. Much better than Windows Restore.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

4 posted on 12/03/2008 6:38:29 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog; rdb3; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; Salo; Bobsat; JosephW; ...

5 posted on 12/03/2008 6:39:47 PM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog
Many of us have suffered a data-destroying computer crash. But some stories are better than others. Josh Diulio, a marketing exec from Monroe, Mich., left his HP laptop sitting on a ledge on the balcony of his apartment building while he ran inside to get a drink. When he came back a crow was perched on the open laptop. The crow, startled by Diulio, leaped up and away, tipping the laptop just enough that it fell seven stories to the street below—where, just for good luck, it was run over by passing cars.

This sounds more like something that would happen in a movie than real life. OTOH, what kind of retard sets a device containing irreplaceable data on a 7th floor balcony ledge?

6 posted on 12/03/2008 6:42:13 PM PST by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
RollBack RX sounds good. Let's give them a plug.
7 posted on 12/03/2008 6:43:53 PM PST by smokingfrog (Buy'em cheap. Bury them deep.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog


Online

External drive/Home server

Better Cost


x

Less Potential for data being used against your interests


x

Less potential for having your data held hostage


x

Less potential for temporary loss of access to data


x


Yep, can't imagine why we aren't ALL backing up online!

8 posted on 12/03/2008 6:54:24 PM PST by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog

9 posted on 12/03/2008 7:06:57 PM PST by JoeProBono ( Loose Associations - Postcards from My Mind)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

Wow, he’s so cute I almost wouldn’t beat him if he did that!


10 posted on 12/03/2008 7:07:37 PM PST by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Still Thinking
“what kind of retard sets a device containing irreplaceable data on a 7th floor balcony ledge? “

The same one, who as the article says, was headed inside to get a drink. Just guessing but the drink was probably a refill of another drink (adult beverage) and he never gave this another thought.

Hey, everyone when drinking thinks it is okay to leave a laptop on a 7 story balcony ledge, right?

Just my guess, but...

11 posted on 12/03/2008 7:08:08 PM PST by JSteff (It was ALL about SCOTUS. Most forget about that and may have doomed us for a generation or more.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: JSteff

I don’t know....I’ve been so full of adult beverages I passed out, but it never would have occurred to me to put something irreplaceable on a 7th floor balcony.


12 posted on 12/03/2008 7:09:24 PM PST by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Still Thinking
what kind of retard sets a device containing irreplaceable data on a 7th floor balcony ledge?

Obama voter?

13 posted on 12/03/2008 7:09:27 PM PST by Lucius Cornelius Sulla (So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Lucius Cornelius Sulla

I’d lay money on it, actually.


14 posted on 12/03/2008 7:10:05 PM PST by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

15 posted on 12/03/2008 7:20:10 PM PST by TSgt (Extreme vitriol and rancorous replies served daily. - Mike W USAF)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Still Thinking
Jungledisk is another great backup option. It uses Amazon's S3 service for data storage.

You can use it as a live online network disk (it looks like a hard drive to Windows/Mac) or for backup.

The Jungledisk program is only $20 and Amazon charges very little for the online storage. I use several gigs of storage and pay about $2/month.

If you are really cheap, just set up a Gmail account and email files to yourself. Gmail is up 7 gigs of free storage.

16 posted on 12/03/2008 7:30:39 PM PST by MediaMole
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Still Thinking

Since I misinterpreted your post, here’s a good reason for online backup.

Fire.

That said, I use multiple home backups — DVDs and external hard drives as well as online storage.


17 posted on 12/03/2008 7:32:25 PM PST by MediaMole
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Still Thinking
sorry


18 posted on 12/03/2008 7:33:52 PM PST by JoeProBono ( Loose Associations - Postcards from My Mind)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: MediaMole

No, fire is not a good reason (or not a good enough reason) for online data storage. Offsite storage of backups, yes. Online storage, no.


19 posted on 12/03/2008 7:36:41 PM PST by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: MediaMole
At least not for me. But then I won't have credit cards with RF chips in them either. I tend to be a little paranoid. Question is, am I paranoid enough? ;-)
20 posted on 12/03/2008 7:38:24 PM PST by Still Thinking (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson