Once again it is time to remind all in the community to backup your files. I just lost about 4-6GB of stuff including some recent DAZ freebies and purchases among other POSER stuff due to a program running rampant and chewing up my NEW harddrive. And wouldn't you know it. Today was the day I was going to back that stuff up!! Once again - Do not let this happen to you! Stop what ever it is you are doing and BACK IT UP NOW! (Unless of course that is what you are doing. In that case do it faster!!) Do it now! Stop reading and backup your stuff now! (We'll still be here, promise!)

I keep all my important files on a separate external drive, so if something happens, I can just disconnect it manualy.

I was just about to back up my things... when I saw your message. While I was reading your message my computer crashed and I lost everything. Would you please forward the name/address of your lawyer. he he :) Seriously dlf... wise words... I DID lose everything a few months ago and had to pay a fee to DAZ so I could d/l all my purchases again. You can always replace things like that, but... you can never replace the time and effort that you have put into projects/artwork that become lost forever. So... I for one... second your advise. ziggie

I am running on XP and decided to check out the event logs. Apparently my HDD controller for the drive I was using for storage crapped out at about 4:28 this morning (EST) Microsoft has nothing about the error in their Knowledge Base (but they did thank me for this oversite!) Also make sure you are running a firewall and decent anti-virus software. If you are running XP check up/out your system. My event log shows that the controller problems started back on the 23rd! OUCH!

*feigning nonchalance * ...uh... check up/out XP using what utility or app -- what's it called? Where would the Event Log be, or what generates it, (I saw several .exe's with "event" in their filename)? Other than "Error-Checking" in the HDD's Properties/Tools, are there other apps that should be checked regularly? I hesitated to even ask for fear my computer will suddenly realize I'm working without a net. :-0

DAZ charges you to redownload purchases? Bummer.

hmm...burned CD #57 yesterday. With the exception of 1 CD, they're all still readable..heading for item 11,000 soon..sorry to hear about your HD and all..I support a bunch of folks at work, and I've heard that story many times..
the Event log (well in NT) is under Start|Programs|Administrative Tools.

Well not to (fully) panic! Rant, kick, scream, but do not panic. I am on the tedious path of file recovery. DO NOT ATTEMPT IF YOU ARE NOT 1001% SURE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I am and will not be responsible if you hose, zap or otherwise destroy, hose or mess up your system by following what I am describing. I ran CHKDSK /F and let XP do its thing. Formatting the drive was the last thing I wanted to do. (Good thing too!) Loads of FileXXYY.CHK files. Only thing they show up in a hidden subdir and the command prompt (think DOS mode) would not let me unhide them, but I can see them from there so I COPIED as many as I could to a working drive with free space. Using VIM (a text editor) I open each file and Lo and Behold! I can identify some of the contents. I rename the extention of the file to the format suggested by the file contents, then open that file in the appropiate application (ie, .zip, .rar, .exe-these are rare to get to work, but I got one to work). Slow going, but I can salvage some of the stuff. BACK UP NOW PEOPLE!

The Home version of Windows XP does not have a native backup/recovery software built in. I had to buy a package to use with my HP Tape drive. Still I have never put it to the test. I would like to have a second backup to the first. I was thinking of burning some CDs but the backup package does not have that capability. What is a good program for backing up on CDs? Thanks