So, my 5-years-old solid state drive on my main PC just decided that it wants to retire itself few days ago. It's the main C drive and it's on my main studio computer. It only contain all the system's stuff (Windows, VSTs) but it feels like I lost everything.

..but why I feel so empty now and even life doesn't make any sense anymore. Does this ever happens to you ? How you cope with it ? I mean, ordering a new replacement SDD still feels unreal, and I don't even know where or how to begin. Why does this has to happen ? Is there a way to prevent this from happening ? or maybe a prevention steps.

 

I'm so sorry to hear that.

If it's only VSTs and system files you lost, there's nothing you cannot recover. However, losing projects... now that is impossible to recover, and hurts A LOT (I've been there...). The best way to prevent this from happening is of course doing a backup, preferably a combination of cloud backup and a backup HDD or SSD. It's also important to update the firmware of your SSD as that can save it from suddenly dying, because often times those updates fix critical flaws.

Anyway, just move on, it's okay, we all have been there. Re-dowload everything you can, and be patient...

 

Damn dude. I'm sorry that happened to. Currently, I have a system SSD and two external drives and the thought of losing the data on just one of those drives fills me with dread. This post makes me more paranoid. I should really back up my data.

I mean, look at the bright side, you said you only lost all your system files, so presumably all of your personal files and work content got spared. You should get a new system drive and use this as a learning experience to back up your files. I promise you, having to reinstalling everything might seem like a tall order, but once you're back on your feet, you'll look back and wonder why you ever were worried in the first place.

Peace and good luck,
Majestic

 

I would install my DAW and audio editor; and only re-install plugins on the new SSD as old projects required them to be opened. or as I went to go use them.

 

Once it happened to me. 2006. A malware issue ruined everything. Not only the system and software, also many hours of recorded and edited music. Monthes of work. It was so frustrating I stopped computer based musicproduction for about 4 years. That brought me back making music just for the moment, like it ever was until the rise of recordingtechnologies. Nowadays i make much more music than i record.

 

This is like car accident - it comes out of the blue. And you can get back up as a person after the grief shock phase and address the problem.
Order hard drive - install it - install Windows and reinstall all plugins - programs - software. The pain passes - it's like after a flood.
It could have been a ransomware attack.

After that make a complete backup of your hard disk C:/ to a second drive. So you can back up your system in case of crisis.

Dear Stevie others have also gotten over it, you can do it too.

 

just get an internal SSD for your important files and never let temporary saving happen or move any files - it will last forever, problem solved

but yeah, one of my externals died a while ago and it contained important chatlogs I had with a music teacher, which sucks because I had to pull all the infos from my swiss cheese memory after

 

Honestly you got off lightly for how bad a storage failure can be. Having to reinstall windows, daw and plugins is very inconvenient but shouldn't send you into an extended state of mourning.

Some people lose all their project files, custom samples, presets. Irreplaceable photos and videos etc. Businesses have had to close over catastrophic data loss. It's frustrating but you will bounce back from this.

 

Dude, I feel you. Every time anything gets brocken we realize that nothing is endless.

Not really but to keep the damage smaller:
Back-Up your Stuff 3. Times 3 Different Places 3 Different Media. (One of the maybe best IT Security rules I know )

 

I sometimes sit in front of the PC and imagine that after booting up the PC remains black or is encrypted with ransomware.
Oh all data gone.
Man good that I have a backup and all my important files on a BluRays, 2nd hard drive, external 2tenPC and USB sticks stored.

Because I could imagine that Audioz no longer exists or the Internet is no longer accessible, I have invested a lot of time and money in the backup of movies, music and software. My nightmare would be a power failure also called blackout.

 

The Backup and Clone Gods are your friends...

 

Dude, I feel you too. It's because it happened to me also that I began to back up C: . Is there anything you could do to recover files on your SSD ?

 

I use a Network Attached Storage device (NAS) with mirrored drives for important data, and it's definately worth the hassle.

 

No king rules for ever, nothing stands for eternity. Witnessing internet literally becoming GAFAMnet now, ducts between webs more and more algorithmically switched, and the youtube content availability turnover acceleration leaves me ...thoughty.

 

it's a PC just bust out autopsy and sleuth kit! (I'm joking). Time Machine is the most elegant solution to many of the above issues. It's so simple you actually do your backups. mostly

 

It's all about controlling the masses and your opinion - there's a lot of censoring and deleting going on. The elites want to have power over us and get rich and stay rich with our money. They want uncritical consumers who don't interfere. Let's stay strong and fight for our internet.

 

I remember when my only HDD began to falter. I felt like my live is ending.

 

my condolences

 

there's tools that monitor the health of your SSD and show a percentage or status bar that you can consult.
other than that, i suppose the only possible thing you can do is frequent and automated backups.
i lost quite a few harddrives over the years so i know how much it stings. use the opportunity to set up a clean and well organized system and then proceed from there.

 

You got to treat your computer just like your car, house, wellbeing, etc...
Everything is at the mercy of mother nature so in the case of your SSD, did you make sure
- You keep your computer running at low temps (I heard that large storage SSDs get extremely hot)
- Organize your SSD files often (Go through and delete things you don't need).
- Run checks when you start to notice slow performance (SSD/CPU/PC manufacturer software)
- Run full back-up now & every 1 - 3 months.

There are probably more points, but these are the ones that come to mind when I'm using my PC.