unseenharbinger
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I got my files back and: what actually happened...
🕑 Added 2019-04-29 10:48:30 +0000 UTC
On April 1st 2019 around 8 PM CEST my main external harddrive, where I stored ALL my data, decided to die on me. I briefly mentioned it on twitter but didn't elaborate further on the matter because honestly, it was an emotional rollercoaster. This harddrive literally had everything I've worked on for over 10 years now. Of course the harddrive wasn't that old itself, the data were migrated several times, but the harddrive in question was the latest storage device. It held all my pictures, documents, music and - of course - every render I've ever made. The entire Giants and the City Multiverse was on the brink of extinction.
We didn't go down without a fight tho. Stuart Callahan and I fought to the teeth and powerful tech-magic was deployed. I was lying down underneath my desk, my phone in the one hand and a flashlight between my teeth, filming what my other hand was doing so Stuart could direct me, as we tried to circumvent the USB controller we deemed responsible for the irresponsiveness of the harddrive. Turned out, this harddrive was the one of 4 model-types who used manufacturer hardware encryption, so the data couldn't be accessed without the controller. At some point I couldn't keep myself awake anymore and took a nap, while Stuart kept on throwing everything he got at the harddrive - alas, to no avail. The data seemed lost.
Short story shorter, we finally sent the harddrive to a data recovery company, which specialiced in restoring encrypted data like this. Unfortunately, those guys know what's on the line for their customers and their prices matched the risks. In the end, I paid nearly 1600€ (about 2000$) for their service, but at last, finally, thank Gandalf, I got my files back. The package was delivered just now and after a first review, everything seems to be in order.
Up to this point, I didn't want to talk about it, I didn't want to think about it, I only mentioned it on twitter here and there, but with the huge relief and the massive weight lifted off my chest, I finally can inform you about this - knowing that there is a somewhat "happy end".
There are however, some consequences. 2000$ are no joke and to be able to pay it, I will - unfortunately - have to cut back on the freebie comic. Don't worry, there will be a freebie comic. But it will be shorter and only feature Scarlett. I will make up for my promises to feature Sally and Ashley as determined by the poll, but this will have to wait until after the next commercial comics have covered the massive, 2000$-shaped hole in my budget. Please bear with me.
Comments
Thanks Alex. I really appreciate this. But i would probably really feel better if I wasn't already so god damn slow with my content XD
Yeah, we're already working on a solution like this :) And if I had done this earlier, it would have cost me only half as much as the recovery... doh X(
Don't you dare worry about us now, what's important is you got your life's work back. I'd hate it if this incident caused you to give up something that gave you so much joy. Whatever happens now, we're all behind you.
Johnn
However about your free work no problem, you have to recover the 1600€!!
Johnn
The hard disk (even SSD) can fail. You have to put all your data into a Raid array of multiple disks! If your motherboard has the integrated raid controller you can use it, or you can simply buy an external NAS with at least 2 disk slots (synology and Qnap are the best). But you have also protect your data from virus so you have to mantain periodical snapshots of all the data.. So the NAS is the best choice. But even the NAS can Fail! So you have to configure a backup on external Cloud servers! If you need help you can PM me!
yeah, despite my best efforts, the money I burried in the garden last year just wont sprout :/
Lucas
no problem, but I'm looking forward to it, after all, money does not grow on trees;)
