You know the feeling--you are rolling along, everything is going like clockwork, you are ticking every item off your to-do list, feeling pretty proud of yourself, when CRASH your whole world comes to a screeching halt.

I was in the office ready to print out some flyers for my new listing, so I plug in my flash drive so I can retrieve my pictures and THE COMPUTER DOESN'T RECOGNIZE MY USB DEVICE.  So, of course, I blame the computer and move to another computer.  Same thing.  Then I notice that the red light doesn't go on unless I jiggle the flash drive. It blinks on and off, and then NOTHING.

PANIC SETS IN.  Everything in my life is on that flash drive.  I know, I know--always back up everything, which I do for my computer, but never in a million years did I think I had to back up the flash drive.  I was only ever concerned that I would lose it, so it is attached to my car keys.  So now what? What am I going to do if I can't access all that information? Most of it isn't even on my computer because I use different computers.  I always felt so smug knowing all my data is conveniently with me at all times.

So I called my local computer geeks and was told that it sounded like the soldering had come lose so it won't connect any more.  SOLDERING? REALLY?  Who even thinks about these things?

They told me that that was a good sign as they might be able to resolder it, which is a much better scenario than if the thing were actually fried.  I guess all those times of plugging it in and yanking it out had taken its toll.

I dropped it off so they could check it out. Three days later, they called to let me know that they resoldered it and got a connection.  Half a week of not having it, though, totally wrecked my week, but at least I have my data back.

Long story short, flash drives are just like any other data storage device:

  • They can break
  • Be gentle with them
  • Always, always, always back them up

I hope this helps someone; I just wish I had realized this before I lost three days and a small fortune getting my data back. 

 

 

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Peggy Chirico

 

 

Peggy Chirico, REALTOR®
Serving the Greater Hartford Area
Prudential CT Realty
peggychirico@gmail.com

860-748-8900

If you are buying or selling a home in Hartford County or Tolland County, please call me, email me, or visit my website.  I would be happy to help you with your home search or provide a market analysis for your home.

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15 Comments on A Bleak Week: DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

APR
17
2010
303,672 Points 10 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Peggy,

Valuable lesson learned!  Thanks for sharing.  I never thought about a backup to my usb flash but if you think about it, they can easily get damaged or lost.  Luckily you were able to get your data back.  When my computer went, Staples was able to recover my hard drive documents, pictures, etc. for about $100 which was well worth the money.

Have any relatives in New Jersey or Enfield Connecticut with the maiden name Chirico? My husband's aunt lives in Enfield but her maiden name is Chirico.
2:37pm • #1

WOW !! We have had those same weeks way to many times ! We are SO dependent on our "stuff" What did we do before we had all our "Stuff"?  
2:41pm • #2
421,110 Points 12 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Gina - I never thought about it either! And yes my husband has relatives in Garfield, NJ but I don't think he's related to more than about five people or at least not that he knows of!
2:42pm • #3
868,676 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Soldering ? That's smells weird. I think they might have ripped you off. Next time take it to a nearby university computer lab and they'll probably check it out and repair it for nothing for you.
2:44pm • #4
920,284 Points 80 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Called Shot Master

Thanks for the advice Peggy! It's too bad you had to experience this, yikes! Also, it's important to back up your camera memory cards as well!
2:49pm • #5
421,110 Points 12 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Mike and Belinda - I can never decide if it is easier now or easier then when we didn't have "stuff"!

Hi David - Now you have me curious! Like I said, I panicked!  But I would be interested to know if anyone else thinks it smells weird!

Hi Wanda - I know--20/20 hindsight is great, but I am going to be more diligent about backing things up from now on!
3:00pm • #6
125,525 Points 2 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

I agree... it was a bleak week!!!!  I moved to a temporary office on Monday of this week.  I didn't have a telephone until Thursday(which chewed up my cell phone minutes very quickly!). I was able to get my wireless laptop and printer(which then read "low ink"!) hooked-up on Wednesday , AFTER I discovered the office security code!  On Friday, the computer guru(who had been on vacation) came and hooked my computer up to the building's network and main printer; apparently, he didn't TEST IT 'cause nothing is working right now except my WIRELESS LAPTOP!

Next week will be better!  Next week will be better!  next week will be better!
3:05pm • #7

Peggy: Whether it was broken or not, it could have been lost or stolen, and so it's still a great idea to have it backed up.  Thank you for sharing!
3:05pm • #8
271,439 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Peggy ~  Ohhhhh the 2nd post on this today.. I think it is a sign.. my digital citizen friends have been talking about back up in the cloud.. I am going to go hunt the cloud out now.. that way no matter where you are you can access the information.. unless of course the cloud disappears.. sounds like we need 2 back ups plus the source... On the TO DO LIST NOW! 

Cosmic Cow
3:30pm • #9
421,110 Points 12 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Kathy - I feel for you! And yes next week will be better! Thanks.

Thanks David - I will always back up from now on!

Hi Carra - I just read the other post - maybe there is something going on (doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo)!

 
3:47pm • #10
535,983 Points 71 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I put the mother of all computer virus on an office computer. The repair folks literally had to purge the system and start anew.
5:06pm • #11
424,083 Points 40 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Oh my, who knew?!  Now, I am going to back-up my flash drive.  My whole life is on there too!
11:27pm • #12
APR
19
2010

Kathy, great little tidbit of knowledge.  So happy you warned us about this.  I store my pictures and presentations on my jump drive, guess we know why it is called jump drive.  We jump and go crazy if it does not work!!
Tanya Spotts
8:01am • #13
421,110 Points 12 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Doug - I guess I should be glad that it was only my flash drive!

Hi Melinda - I will probably double-backup from now on!

Hi Tanya - That's pretty much what I did - jump and go crazy!

 
8:11am • #14
APR
23
2010

I like to store my stuff on my 16GB digital camera card since it holds so much more than the flash drive yet operates the same way.
2:05am • #15

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