Friday, July 21, 2006
loss of a good friend
Recovery Trials
What I am doing at this time is trying to find work arounds to regain 'read' access to the HD. If I can read it I can save it to another HD or burn to DVD. How I am doing this is by using Live Linux distro's. From these I've gained some info about the drive that I did not have under windows. I am also reading how others have sought to recover lost or deleted files. This info is invaluable and I will try the recovery programs.
7/11/06
Fast forward to this morning, I did not do anything last night with the drive. Today I bit a bite and bought a 250G HD to mirror if I can. My intention is to load a msos onto it, set the other drive up and run some recovery programs. {7/17/06 - I fore went the msos route} Using a file recovery program from
7/13/06
I am still working on the work arounds. The PC tower I am using will not recognize the 250gig HD via Win98 (se). The linux live distro's will not either. This morning I turned on the faulty drive to my laptop, the recovery program did analize and recognize the logical partions. I also looked at the directories and files. Great relief sweapt my brow. I did start a limited recovery to verify that recovery is possible.
Next time to 'play' a little more with the 250gig before launching my recovery effort. I cycled on and off the 250gig trying to replicate the original error, So far no luck. My next thing to try is to recover the data by read & copy.
7/17/06
Yes, last night I ran a r&c program. This morning I hit random files of the some 50 thousand files it found. Of the images I viewed I saw what I went looking for, however, of doc's I saw very few that were readable while the txt's and html's were pretty much garbage. Therefore the conclusion of this trial and error week light to me: BACK UP ALL IRREPLACEABLE DATA! Some people get hit by viruses, some by trojan's, others by malware, me, I get hit by my own uh stupid mistakes.
If you have any image CD that I have given to you over the last 2 (two) years please give me a copy. My recovery effort I know will not be 100%. The more original image CDs I have the more stable my collection will be.
My next steps this week is to redo that which I did last night with refinement to my search pattern, followed by a sort (manually) of the images into folders on the 250G; do that again using another r&c recovery program; compare both results; finally with my images saved from the bad drive restore the partion table.
7/18/06
Yeah my images are salvagable. I ran one r&c last night saving all the jpg's and other images. Now, with those I have to sort them. The yeah transitions to an ugh with the thought of additional work.
The key to all of this is ensure your back up system is fool proof.
I am confident at this point to say I will survive. I do have a lot of work to do over the next few days before I claim this battle for my data is won.
7/19/06
And every time I say 'I am confident that I will survive' something else crops up. Last night I ran my second r&c program only to have it freeze up on me while I created directories to save my data to this morning. Choices and issuses which do I do; do I re-run that program to night or do I try the partion file replacement option of the first program? This is a trick question, I re-run the program.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Recovery Help Wanted
Over the weekend my backup system went south.
I've searched the lists of help pages and now it's time for me to scream HELP.
this is what I wrote to one of the help pages...
Yesterday, I turned on my external HD which is a Western Digital 160G in an ADS Tech case. I had it partioned into at least 3 ways. The thing had a way of cycling on and off during its first few minutes of power up while MSXP Autoplay would ask what did I want to do with this kind of multi-media device. Normally I click escape and let well enough alone; this time I clicked on open in folder, do always (for both drives that had stuff on them). I then proceded to copy over the new pixs from the week past. I left the room. When I came back there was a copy message error that I didn't read and clicked okay. I tried to access the drive. I couldn't. I reboted my laptop. Nothing. I cycled on and off the HD. Nothing. I examined the window control pannel info nothing. I could see the drive but not the data nor gain access to it.
I do not want to loose the data on this disk! I have nearly 40 Gigs of pictures I've taken in the last 2 years. Now some of the images are less then good, everything I look at I see as postive learning images. Many of these images I have taken for friends who will occassionally ask for additional copies.
If you want to see the specs of the error please contact me with resources I can use.
Thanks
B
PS
opt for alternate back up plans...
like DVDs & CDs
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Irony of Feb 7
My friend picked up pixs from me (i work for UPS). He said he was on his way
to the post office to fedex them to the webmanager who will recieve them by
dhl. Hum? Any more carriers involved?
After havin refilling in a broken tooth I went for a drive. Where? Where
else to McD's in Evenston WY of course. Why there I don't know. I must
remember the junk yard I spoted near Castle Rock -exit 186. Covered with
some snow it looks to have some classic cars. Must remember. Either for an
early morning drive or afternoon shoot.
Had just enough down time between appointments to retroflect on what I want
to do.... travel to China and see that broad country.
Nite Drive Pixs
-put 3 thumbnail of hand held pixs w/links here-
Normally, I hold my camera in my hand, last night I read of a guy who uses a
tripod to snag the shots (ref. PopPhoto.com). Today, I put my tripod in my
passanger seat. Will it work for my morning commute? Will I get some cool
light trails of trucks comming up Parley's? I had to return to the valley
so I gave it a shot. Setting the camera isn't to hard - manual focus,
f/stop, and shutter speed. The wireless remote works well from the shifter.
What do you think of these shots?
-put 3 thumbnails of tripod w/links here-
Nite Drive Pixss 2
Continuing from yesterday, last afternoon -my evening- I set up my tripod in
the car, pre-set my camera with f/4 and 10 second exposure, and redied my
stuff. This morning I engaged the wireless remote and headed to work. This
should liven up the morning commute. A quick review on the lcd, before going
onto shift, showed a few keepers.
-insert 3 150pixel thumbs-
Comments? Tips/hints? Do overs?
Tomorrow I see a few more semi's - typical Friday morning. I might not be as
fortunate as to have someone to follow down the drive.
Random thoughts of April 1st
I want to say random thoughts, heck that's always a good way to phrase I've
been thinking about alot and not wanting to face the facts. In some ways
this is good yet, experience teaches me the exact opposite. Knowing this
last night I made up my mind to get out of the library once the coffee
perked. A Guinis, a flirt, a thought or two, I think I just plain slept on
my feet while Croswhite croned in the back ground (Steele isn't a croner nor
in the back ground, a talented performer he chose not fame but the Christ).
I had to get up to think, to pray.
Several steel eyes sat at the bar only the bar tenders speaking to them.
Several drivers and package handlers hung in the fore ground of my thoughts,
their words almost haunting, both reveal life unfullfilled. At times like
this I see a mirror of my life. I see unfullfillment of my own life. Sure
I don't know their journeys nor their whole story of the moment. Behind
Steele, a stephen ashbrook poster hung, another high school friend, where am
I now I thought.
'I can get into other people's faces' I said to one of the pastors on
Wednesday, 'but I can't get into my own. Some times I wish the mirror would
scream at me.' TV is escapism for me. I'll get lost on-line for hours after
work as most are heading to their jobs. My comon defintion for 'crazzy' is
someone asking the same question while expecting different results. The
other definition is one who talks alot without showing proof of effort or
support of those words. The mirror screams again. I meet both of those
definitions.
Several weaks ago I hurt my back at work. I got ugly in the face of the
supervisor filling out the paper work. UPS is a union shop so some (job)
protection is in place already. I'm in this super's face already pushing
for improvements to be made in my (former) work area. I am on the 'safety
committee.' Five months later still nothing is happening, what's baloney is
he once was the super in this area. Doesn't he care? Now, after some
healing time I've been transfered to another area. I am no longer loading
UPS delievery trucks. I'm routing which means I'm placing packages into
cages that go past the vehicles. I'll express the negative of this and
follow up with the positive. In short I could be called 'one of Tyler's
(who tyler is is not of consequence now) bitches'. Because I know how to do
most of the center's labor intensive tasks he can put me anywhere he needs
help at - say when someone calls in sick. The positive is I am a 'floater'
I can work anywhere thus giving me a variety, breaking up the monotomy of
SSDD which others phrase as daily FUBAR. One may say the influx of the
package flow through out the shift is baloney. I laugh, once upon a time
I'd cuse the 'belts' for not keeping up now I'm on the receving end. As I
floated at the end of the shift yesterday I asked one of my fellow former
un-loaders, now a pre-load super, if sup'in is worth it. His reply went a
long the lines of 'if you don't want to touch another package again it's
great.' The implications do have neg's and positives. My observed is union
due'rs aren't really going anywhere while supers, many whom are students,
have a goal or two in mind and are working towards it.
This brings me back to screaming mirrors. What do my goals look like? Uh,
what are my goals? How is what I'm doing today helping me achieve them or am
I driving with sticky brakes? Are sticky brakes a problem, a cause, a sign
of something deeper, or a symptom? In a lot of ways when my brakes smoked
coming down I-80 two weeks ago I had to check them out which revealed a
major problem developing which I can solve now with an in-expensive repair.
How now, when an where do I go? My church calls this revealation and change
of direction towards Christ 'flipping.' I don't want to flip, I just want to
go straight, get back on the path I started eons ago, and get there. My map
(goals) is crumpled in my ruck<sack> (life). I think I can get there and
add a little definition to what I think my destination should look like.
What should my first step look like?
Being Union
Being a Union member is great for I have job protection from minor mess ups.
Yet, I find that I get away from one of my foundational values. One of my
values is serving others. Being Union elevates the worker to and almost
above the supervisors. Our 'rights' are protected, which some take to
include clocking in on time without being ready to work on time. Granted
some 'stuff' is valid while other 'bunk' some grants are made. Our jobs are
dependant on ultimately serving the customer regardless of how removed from
them we are. Super's are in place to help us facilitate that service.
Being Union therefore should facilitate managment by quality personel
retention.
up on the jacks & dead
Half asleep in front of the TV yet, following the plot line, I was; when my
Dad walked in announcing the death of my car. His announcement inviting me
to get a full-time job. Knowing the argument I held back simultaniously
trying to follow the show. UPS does feel like a fool-time job. Today, beaten
by shift end, combined with early to non-existant evenings, the plumeting
intensified. The announcement of my car's demise on the lift punctuates the
on going screaming mirror theme. I can understand different messages from
the pulpit, from books, even my own strength/weakness there of. This,
however, hits the span of everything. I use my car as my force of economics
(getting to work), spiritual enlightenment (getting to church), and social
interaction (going to friend's flats). What is not effected?
My D200 fund instantly flipped into the four new wheels campaign. Now would
be a good time to set up my ideal ride however, I also include what I'll
settle for. My ideal would be the new Toyota Tundra TRO mid-size pickup,
deep gray, 15 inch rims, fully loaded, and a fishing rod rack in the back
window to show my red-neck side. I'll settle for any small to mid-size
pickup with 100,000 miles which still looks presentable. My browed wheels
will become a Ford f-150 -aka a tank- once my Mom returns from her trip.
My car, I'll say with its 131,000 miles, treated me well. My late Big-Sis
bought it with 50k. I got it from her with 70k. Yeah, 60k more would be nice
but, a new trany is $2,200; a used one is $400, then the install. The
vehicel is ladden with sentamental value, runs well, and is faded. Driven to
and from East Texas three times with skirmishes to St. Pet FL and to SD CA,
I've got some serious distance in the saddle. Thank God the AC never failed
and the gas tank didn't dry up. Traveling the lonely West Texas stretch of
I-10 in 2004, I counted the miles coinciding to a fateful October day in
'90. Damn! I looked to the sky praising God! I only totaled my chevett and
not my life. Yeah, I bought a section of guard rail. Since that day, I
seldom drive more then ten hours or when I'm fatigued.
My car does have other sentamental value, as for now I'll let my memories
rest. I must get busy finding alternate wheels and employment.
immigration rally
^I don't care if they come here, just don't make it legal for them to stay
here. And I've already told them (those who work here) so.^ a bk employee
expressed while he took my order. I'm 'union' I care about keeping American
jobs in American hands. Like Christians are responsible to pray so
Americians are responsible to become political active. Freelancers keep the
establishment in check. I'm calling on everyone - get off your ass and do
something. Trained on ship board fire fighting the last thing one wants to
do is show up empty handed. Today I represent myself and you for you haven't
shown up (my assumption is you didn't know about today). This entry will be
long. It will be pro-American - tighten imigration regulations. I will try
to present both sides of this arguement in positive light dispite my
'tainted' bias. PS I'm the son of a (Canadian) immigrant/US natralized
citizen. He paid a price for his citizenship, those gathering outside
escaped Mexico.
On the NE corner of Washington Square (Salt Lake City/County Building) the
Utah Minutemen began pulling their ranks together at 9am. The Immigrant
group would arrive later on the NW side. Both groups have permits to
assemble. Both groups expressed to yesterday's news the desire to keep
things civil while expressing their opinion. Time to split bk to see if this
is holding true. 10:11.
Civil? That may be questionable. 17:25 Thats the time right now I should be
in bed getting ready for work. I hadn't intended to stay for long just long
enough for some pixs. The draw of the assembly drew me in.
Seeing helmits turn in the confined spaces; adraline surged - yes conflict,
yes picts of fists, no but close. A few Latinos paused long enough to
warrent police interaction. Someone said 'we need some more neutrals over
here.' Thrusting my way through walls of chanting Latinos, camera firing, I
staged myself along a human chain between marchers, riot police, and the
Utah Minutemen. Keep moving, vamanous, smile and wave, we can do it; are
phrases I do not want to hear for time and a half. Some Latinos wanted to
give a piece of fist to the red faced Americans, most kept shuffling a long.
The Utah Minutemen were not an issue, they stayed back on an established
line. The Latinos were, personally, the trouble. Still, I wanted some
action, rather then see clashes between the groups, I'd prefer a fist my
way.
4/19/06
Has it been 10 days since I last wrote on this issue? Yes, emphatically, yes
it has. The local dailies printed various articles covering the march.
Saddly the Tribune printed some other city's rally on Monday's front page.
What is not your own city valuable enough to warrent the lead image?
Apparently not, and to their shame. State street with God only knows how
many people a mile long is truely impressive. And might I add a rush to be a
part of. The numbers reported on Monday were 20,000 by Friday the number
doubled.
At work almost everyone I talked with held the tighten the immigration
opinion slash enforce the laws already established. I'm with them however,
my cut to them, 'is where the *@@@ were you?' One guy replied,'Out skiing, I
have my priorities.' In that case, I thought, may no one stand by you.
I still stand by my original preface, keep American jobs in American hands.
Next to say, Your Daddy is a criminal, he knowingly broke our laws therefore
he needs to pay the said penalty. Should there be leeway to feed his hungry
family? No, the US foreign aid, trade agreements, and internation relief
agencies already provide for this. What to do? I say put up a fuss. Millions
of Illegals with some ligitement residents put up quite a show. The rest
honestly didn't need to be included in the ranks.
I guess my real bitch here isn't about the rally. It's about the complacency
of Americans. The rally kicked ass. I experienced more excitement there then
I've in a long time. Either that or I lead a boring life; please don't
comment on that statement.
the hidden life of ryck
It's not exactly hidden, the last time I wrote using my PDA I came close to
driving a hammer through it. Imagine writing the graffiti only not to
interpt what is written, easily solved by shaking the broken pieces out of
it. As with most of my stuff my PDA is valued by use not by value of cash.
Today, I settled a debt. My car's transmission went funky, needing to be
replaced, I took the shop keeper's cash. Value by kelly's blue book for a 95
prism: $0.00. The shop keeper is a proff of automechanics at SLCC. He'll
rebuild -aka have a student rebuild- the tranny then let his 'daughter' have
the car. Mechanically, to me, the car is in good shape. All the maintance
records were kept, including gas logs; I did get tired of logging oil use.
What's that use? Simple history of known problems or visual to predict
problems.
I wish I could make use of my nerves. On Friday, I'll toss my last package.
Yeah!!! Uh, wait. My last package? I'll be un-employed as my UPS id card is
turned in. Yes, this is sending me to sleepless nights. I see 7, 8, and 9 on
my early wake me up machine. This is not my schedule. It's the unknown and
bad experience of temp work that causes wide eyes at night.
The job I am taking is flip flopping my comfort zone. Not to many people can
be comfortable with waking at 2am, I am knowing the work is solid and the
pay is good. Comfortable, too, with knowing I can do physical labor.
Learning the UPS system is easy. The hardest thing about my job was not
letting myself get in the supervisor's face. Union protection is great. No,
I actually seldom get into anyone's face. I hold to my saying, 'I am the
stick in the mud; you will become stuck trying to move me.'
focus
Focus - I need to focus. It's a mater of task at this point. I just laid
down my signature on a $big loan - a car loan. I've looked since my prism
died near two months ago. The decision is not easy. Ed & Cg helped along
with the focus on my goals. My life style also plays a part as I want to
transport self, toys, and others around while not sacrificing economy. While
I did not get a truck or a wagon, I did get something that will get me
around for more then a couple of years. So I did bite it with the off the
lot deprecation. Considering the price for used with 30,000 miles is $11G
I'll take the immediate loss knowing all of my family's vehicles have
successfully navigated 100& more miles. I do need to focus for it's not
sticker shock that's got me, nor the fact that this vehicle is still ford's
for the next few years, for me it's the unsteady feeling of the what if's
that hold me in the state of stress.
The state that I weighed myself to includes economy, fuel consumption, toy
totin', practical expandablity, and coolness. Okay what does that mean? Uh,
I'd like to be able to live economically, enjoy the activities I partake in,
and be attractive to the girls while not atttractive to thieves. I just
added that one after talking to my neighbor who had his car
(proffessionally) hotwired. It's weird.
The vehicle chosen is the Ford Focus. Why? The initial stigma of the Focus
is cheap, poor quality, and problematic. I'll agree. The early Focus' were.
Since the early teething problems the Focus has risen in the ranks of
quality, durablity, and reliablity. Depends on who is reporting will say
other wise.
test gallery
| top left |  top right Just Do It Gallery |
 Bottom Left Hill Air Force Base Museum |  test bottom right |
With second thoughts on yesterday's post I've been playing with tables and the like trying to finnd something that will work with the idea of posting a simple gallery on my blog. Yesterday was not a failure, it is a learning experience. This is a sample gallery of test images. You are more then welcomed to copy the code for yourself.