Just lost 10+years of work...Backup advice now needed

After loosing 10+ years of work from an external hdd crash + a pc hd crash both withing 10day perios, I now have a new iMac and trying to find the best backup solution PLUS syncing solution with my Macbook Pro and iPhone before picking up and with my photography. Believe me, I don't think I'll ever be the same because of this loos.
After much research, it's time for feedback from others. I have a concept diagram that I created and can be found here of what I currently looking at - this is a WIP: http://gallery.me.com/nvert#100232/backupdiagram&bgcolor=black
Any help/advice is appreciated.
Brad (aka nvert)

BIG thanks to each of you for your suggestions and advice and taking the time to help a bro out. Aside from a few glitches in my diagram (to redondant or out of sequence) I have a better grasp on how to approach this thanks to your input. The question I still can't really figure out is the syncing concept - how to keep my iMac and MBP synced? If both are connected to a NAS RAID setup, can it be programed to 'push' the most current file version to the other computer? Since I travel and make changes on the fly with my MBP and then refine/revise on the iMac, I'd like to find a way that does this efficiently. ay or two..
By the way, more info for everyone regarding my attempts to recover my data:
"The Accident": One evening I knocked my external HDD off the PC tower which sits under my desk on carpet. The drive fell less than 18" - all cords attached - and I'm sure that slowed the fall a bit. Either way, the drive was powered on 24/7 and most likely spinning at the time of the fall. Once I put everything back in place, the ext HDD began clicking. Immediately I shut it down and went to the forums as well as tech help from my university. The click was truly the "click of death". Because my university has a contract with DriveSavers, I sent it to them hoping for the best. After 2 levels of analysis by DS, nothing on the 320GB drive recoverable. What few items they were able to pull off the drive, even they were not able to decipher if those files were jpgs or txt files.
nd my job was willing to foot part of the bill since we already have an account with DriveSavers. I was ready to pay 2K for data recovery and work was willing to meet me part way. The sick irony of it all is that I was looking at another backup level 2 months before this happened - I just couldn't decide on what and now I have lost all originals. I have lots of work on the web but as you all know that format is limiting.
I lost great work, family pics, travel pics, SCUBA pics, published work, work to be published, writing, course+teaching materials, financial data...EVERYTHING YOU HAVE! So....
...For all of you thinking about upgrading...follow your gut and do it now before something like this happens to you. Not to be pessimistic...it will happen eventually. I'm just thankful the house didn't burn etc but loosing all that work is a bit debilitating. At least my Canon is right beside me at this moment...been the first time in over 5 weeks and usually it's always "the appendage" my friends tease me about.
Again, thanks for responding so fast to my post. I already have a MobileMe account setup up to sync my contacts, bookmarks, dock, keychains, etc. I also have it setup to keep my work related teaching docs up to date but that is done by me on a manual "when I think of it" basis. Right now, my 1st priority to to get a NAS RAID going but not sure if both the MBP and iMac should use TM or something like both of you proposed such as CarbonCopy or SuperDuper.
Best to all,
Brad Whitney
www.bradleywhitney.com
www.flickr.com/bradleywhitney
http://gallery.me.com/nvert

Similar Messages

  • Help I've just lost 8 years worth of iCal data

    I've just lost 8 years worth of iCal data. Does Apple still have the  data? My HD died. My Mac mini will not support the new "Cloud" portal. Does anyone have any ideas how I can retrieve my data from Apple? Thanks

    When you say "I can see all of my calendars", I'm assuming you mean in iCal, yes?  If so, my two suggestions would be:
    1) Go into Time Machine and go back to a date when you had all your calendar info, and restore the calendar from there.
    Or ...
    2) If you were using MobileMe, access your MobileMe account through your web browser, open the Calendar in there and see if there's any data in that calendar.  If there is, you should be able to sync through Mobile Me, choosing let MobileMe overwrite the hard drive.
    But I'd definitely try Time Machine first.
    Good luck.

  • I just reinstalled from my time machine backup and now it is asking me for a user id.  I never had one before

    As part of the hard drive recall for imacs i had my drive replaced.
    i just reinstalled from my time machine backup and now it set up a user id, I never had one before. Of course I don't know the password and cannot get in.
    Why?  How do I get around it?

  • Just replace my HD, restored from backup but now my iPhone won't sync with iTunes over wifi

    Just replace my HD, restored from backup but now my iPhone won't sync with iTunes over wifi

    Is synching over wi-fi viable?  I've never done it, but when I tried something similar back in the old Palm PDA days, it was S-L-O-W, slow as molasses.  I realize that the i-device are far more modern with faster processors, but wondering whether it's even worth exploring doing this.

  • Lost contacts, restored from a backup and now lost all photos

    My wifes iphone 4s just lost all her contacts out of the blue. I tried to restore her contacts from a old backup and now she has lost a LOT of VERY important photos that were saved on her phone. Photos for her collage final "capstone" project before graduating.
    WHAT can i do to get them back????
    Phone has not been backed up since 6/12 and when we conected it to the computer (after ALL her contacts have just dissapeared) we attempted to get them back by restoreing from that backup. once finished all her contacts were back but now she is missing almost 400 photos.
    PLEASE is there a way.....

    You cannot recover the photos.  They were overwritten by the restore. If your father had enabled PhotoStream they might still be available, but again, only if this had already been enabled.

  • I just updated to OS X 10.9.3 and lost 3 years of work

    I was in a hurry to instal new software that needed 10.9.3 so I quickly updated it not realising that I needed to make a back up.
    I now am left with a completely clean slate on my computer.  I seem to have all of my Applications but with not files. All of my files are gone.
    I work in music and design and desperately need my work back.  Can anyone help me retrieve it?  Can it be retrieved?
    Thank you

    If all your files are missing
    You may have logged in as a different user, such as Guest. Open the Users & Groups pane in System Preferences. Your name should be at the top of the user list, under Current User. See also this support article. 
    If files are missing from one folder
    Change the Finder view mode; for example, from icon view to list view, or vice versa.
    If files are present, but seem outdated
    You may have started up from a different volume (disk.) Open the Startup Disk preference pane and check the selection.

  • Just lost 4 years of emails on iPhone and now MBAir! how do Iget them back?

    Just looked at my iphone and got 3 new emails this afternoon. Scrolled down to find next emails are from Aug 2008!!
    opened up MacBook Air Mail only to see last 4 years emails go in a flash - yes, 4 yrs of emails GONE...!!!
    Anyone any ideas..?  Is this just a temporary server issue or has this wonderful icloud system just wiped all my emails off forever?
    T

    Was just checking on activity over in another area and there are posts reporting problems with the iCloud mail server(s) today...that could be what you are seeing.  Maybe give it a day or two to get resolved and see if they don't do a backup from other servers.
    I will let you know if I hear anything else, also.

  • Have I just lost 5 years of music???

    Hi Folks, hoping you can advice here,
    Recently bought an external HD and decided to copy all my itunes music across to it. As I understood it the process here was to change the location of my library to one on the external HD and then consolidate my library.
    I did this and things looked in order so I carelessly trashed the original library. Imagine my surprise on looking closely to find that only 20% of my music had copied and all my music store purchases and everything else had been deleted! Am I seriously out of luck or is there a way to salvage things here? Surely consolidate should do just that? Any tips or help would be so so appreciated right now...
    And yes, the recycle bin has been emptied

    Try using an application such as [Data Rescue II|http://www.prosofteng.com/products/data_rescue.php] or [FileSalvage|http://subrosasoft.com/OSXSoftware/index.php?mainpage=product_info&productsid=1]. Both have free trial versions that let you see if the software will help before you decide to buy. You will also need a second hard drive equal to or larger in size than your first drive.
    It is critical that you do not use the computer or even turn it on until you have rescued your files. Files only have the directory reference to them removed when you empty the trash and are still present on the computer. However, their space is marked as available to any other file creation done on the computer (even done by you booting the computer) and there is risk that your files will be overwritten by the computer.

  • Bookmarks lost, restore doesn't work (backup files exist), library empty, power outage this morning, HELP.

    power outage this morning... don't know if Firefox was open
    Now bookmarks gone
    library totally empty
    backup restore yields message: "Unable to process the backup file"
    cannot save new bookmarks

    A possible cause is a problem with the file places.sqlite that stores the bookmarks and the history.
    *http://kb.mozillazine.org/Bookmarks_history_and_toolbar_buttons_not_working_-_Firefox
    *https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Bookmarks+not+saved#w_places-database-file
    * http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_process_the_backup_file_-_Firefox

  • My mac just lost the connection to the internet and now it wont recognize my wireless modem

    airpor wont read modem after using it all the time

    Try a complete power cycle of the network
    Power down the entire network...all devices...order is not important
    Wait a few minutes
    Start the modem first and let it run for 2-3 minutes by itself
    Start the next device connected to the modem the same way
    Continue starting devices one at a time about a minute apart until everything is powered back up
    Check the network

  • PC crashed, lost iTunes, but retained my music files, now need to transfer to new PC.

    I have an old PC that recently crashed and I lost all applications.  I was able to get it operational so that I have access to the 90 GB of music stored on the hard drive.  However, iTunes is gone and when reinstalled I just got a new, blank version without my music.  So my iPod Classic is essentially an orphan.
    I purchased a new PC and can move the stored music, but am wondering a few things:
    I have a lot of live music that I spent considerable time formatting within iTunes, is there a way to save that formatting if I have the old iTunes folders?
    Without the ipod having an 'active' iTunes account, is there a way I can use it to tranfer anything?
    For the music that was uploaded to iTunes using CDs, is there a way to migrate that from the old PC using the iTunes Media/Music/Library folders?
    Thanks!

    matthewfrommerseyside wrote:
    It is a new pc - old one crashed and lost everything.
    Yes, I got that. My question was "are you using the same iTunes account to access music purchased from the Store?" I think your answer is "yes".
    matthewfrommerseyside wrote:
    But they are all on my ipod - can i not sync back to itunes?
    iTunes is not designed to do that. However, this user tip from tt2 may help you recover your music from your iPod, although it's not a simple process: Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device
    Ignore any references in the tip to iOS devices, the Classic does not use iOS. The tip has a list of software, including the TouchCopy referred to by tbirdvet that may assist you in recovering your music.

  • "Edit Menu in Photoshop" - just lost 2hrs of work

    Well, I clicked the "Edit Menu in Photoshop" option in Encore CS3 and reluctantly went to work on my menu in Photoshop since Encore doesn't have the basics of menu design options.
    I saved my menu constantly in Photoshop, but didn't think to save it under a different filename since I figured it would save *something* to the hard disk anyway for me to find later.
    I switched back to Encore and since nothing had changed there, I closed the project and thought re-opening might show me my updated menu. I was wrong.
    I just lost two hours of work. I tried to open the "recently opened" file, but no, it was some sort of temp file that doesn't exist anymore.
    Anyone have an idea of how to get this back? And how am I supposed to update my Encore menu so that it shows the Photoshop modifications?
    Thanks
    Prizm

    Prizm4,
    First thing that I'd do is Open PS, then File>Open Recent. You should see the TMP Menu file in that list, as it Opened from Encore. Open it, and see what state it is in. Ideally, it should be up to date, from when you did the Save.
    As Joe points out, the TMP file is created by Encore, then Opened in PS. Save (or Ctrl-s) should save this file and link it back to Encore. In CS2, I encountered some problems (as did others), where hitting Save (and/or Ctrl-s) did NOT update in Encore. Remember, this was in CS2. The workaround for me was to Save several times (sounds like you did that). I'd usually have my Layer Sets open, and Ctrl-s, close the Layer Sets and Ctrl-s. Though it was a few added keystrokes and not the perfect workflow, it always worked for me. A few times, it took a moment for Encore to finally update to the revised file.
    I assumed that this was a little glitch between PS and Encore2 in CS2. It also did not happen THAT often, but enough, that the multiple Ctrl-s became a habit of mine.
    I never saw anyone, who could this this malfunction 100% of the time. I also did not find any commonality between systems (either HW, or SW conflicts) to indicate that some component was causing this. I also could not find much in MY workflow to suggest why some Menus did this. Most often they were variations of Library Menu Assets. I did notice that I had more of these glitches when working from a "template" Project, that only had AV Assets changed (Save_As Projects from the original "template.) and then the Menus changed to match the new Assets. Notice that I put "template" in quotation marks so one will not confuse Template with "template" in Encore. In my case, 95% of the Menus did just what they should going to/from PS out of Encore2. There were those pesky 5%, however that things did not go, as designed.
    I would have assumed that CS3 had gotten around whatever was causing this, but as it was not 100% repeatable, maybe not.
    When I'd go the "normal" Save route, and it would not "take," Opening the TMP (Files>Open Recent) always got me back in PS. Multiple Ctrl-s always did the trick. Seems that 3 was the magic number, when it was not working, as it should.
    If you do a Save_As, you will have to Import_As Menu into Encore and then probably want to Delete your "other" Menu.
    Might want to read through: http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.3c05a3cd/0
    Maybe something else will strike you as useful.
    Good luck,
    Hunt

  • My PC just crashed, so iTunes too. Backup my iPhone?

    Hi,
    I used to sync my iPhone with iTunes on my home PC. Yesterday my PC crashed. I had to restore, so I've lost iTunes and the phone backups.
    Now when I want to sync my iPhone on the same PC, I get the iTunes a message, something like that : "your iPhone is synced with an other library... this will erase your data ...".
    Do somebody know how I can sync my iPhone without losing data ?
    Thanks.

    Hi,
    For your medias (movies, music), you will have to right-click on your iphone in the new iTunes and click on "Transfer Purchases".
    For your photos and videos, you can make a backup manually through iPhoto on a mac or the explorer on a PC.
    Then, for your personal data as contacts, calendars, settings,... you will have to right-click on your iphone in iTunes and click on "backup".
    Finally, you can restore your iphone with the backup you've just created and sync back all your medias and photos, you've previously backed-up in iTunes. That's what I've done.

  • I just opened my mail on icloud and all messages disappeared from the last year! I have one email left in my inbox which is the most recent. I moved to icloud 2 weeks ago and it has been working fine until now. How can I retrieve old messages? Thank you.

    i just opened my mail on icloud and all messages disappeared from the last year! I have one email left in my inbox which is the most recent. I moved to icloud 2 weeks ago and it has been working fine until now. How can I retrieve old messages? Thank you.

    I guess you could try but I don't believe Apple can help with activation lock issues.  They may, however, be able to determine if the Apple ID belongs to one of you and reset the password for you if you can prove your identity.
    You might want to try calling Apple by going to https://expresslane.apple.com; click 'More Products and Services, then 'Apple ID'.  In the next page select 'Other Apple ID Topics' then 'Lost or forgotten Apple ID password'.  Perhaps they can help determine if it's your ID and reset the password for you (and they probably have more expertise in doing this than the Apple store).

  • HT201301 I've backed up my iPad and lost a years worth of work in Pages. Is there any way to get it back? I had done file sharing between iPad and Mac but it only saved one of the Pages documents.

    I've backed up and updated my ipad and lost a years worth of work in Pages. Is it possible to get it back? Before I updated I tried to do filesharing with my Mac but it would only share 1 document from Pages. All the others have gone.

    I reposted the question here where I'm getting advice:
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1302031&tstart=0
    S.

Maybe you are looking for

  • Export matrix to excel

    hi! I created a matrix and defined connections between positions and functions. Then I followed the ARIS instructions on how to export matrix to excel. All worked fine, but when I opened my .xls file, there were shown my positions, functions and in c

  • Display different portal page or portlet depend on user's

    can I display different portal page or portlet depend on user's profile,such as: if user's gender is male, display a portal page named "malePortal",if the user's gender is female, display a portal page named "femalePortal"

  • I am unable to make any purchases in the App Store. PLEASE HELPPPP!

    I am unable to make any purchases in the App Store. I have $15 in the account but I still can't buy any games. It only lets me purchase free games. It says "this Apple ID is now locked and unable to make any purchases"

  • Configuration of Audit Collection Services

    Hello, can someone point me to some documentation for Audit Collection Services that will explain how to get a handle on the events collected? I am aware of adtadmin /setquery and also of the location in the registry that the query is stored in on AC

  • MMS.CFG getting reset when contacting Adobe for updates

    Hello! I noticed two days ago that many users were getting prompts for updates. I had deployed Flash 11.8 in July with the following MMS.CFG settingS: AutoUpdateDisable=0 AutoUpdateInterval=1 SilentAutoUpdateEnable=1 Today I noticed the most users MM