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Tip from someone who learned the hard way...

DAMDAM Posts: 2,410 ✭✭
in PCGS Set Registry Forum
I replaced my old P2 333mh last October with a new faster computer. AT the same time, I upgraded my coin software to the latest version (for use with XP). I decided to add my slabbed coins first. As I was adding the coins, I decided (when I was almost through with the slabbed coins) I would design an Excel spreadsheet to use instead of the coin software. That way I could move from my computer to any computer that had Excel to view my collection. About 10 years ago I used a Lotus spreadsheet to track my collection. I really liked the simplicity of the speadsheet compared to using software. Anyway, I designed the spreadsheet the way I wanted, added all the slabbed coins, over 400, again! When I was finished I compared the purchase price totals, cert numbers, date of purchase, etc., between the software and the spreadsheet until I got everything to match.

Along the way, I burnt a copy of the spreadsheet onto a CD to take to work and work on. After I finished the spreadsheet, I decided I didn't need the CD anymore and destroyed it. Well... a couple of weekends ago, I thought I should make a backup of my spreadsheet. I was going to burn it onto a CD. I turned the computer on and it gave me and error. After spending about 2 hours trying to get the machine to boot, nothing. Long story short... the harddrive crashed. Before I could get the spreadsheet copied. imageimage

The only saving grace is I have a printout from the software I made of the entire slabbed collection, the original Lotus spreadsheet printout, and other purchase notes from the past couple of years. I can use all this to rebuild my collection information base. So, the next couple of months or so will be spent recreating "ANOTHER" collection speadsheet and entering the information ALL OVER AGAIN.

When you own a computer everyone tells you "backup your information". "Yeah!, yeah! I will, when I get around to it", is what most of us say. I learned my lesson. This time, I'll backup as I go!!!!! image
Dan

Comments

  • jonesyjonesy Posts: 5,031
    As cheap as backup media is today, please backup anything worth backing up.
    Glennimage
  • dbldie55dbldie55 Posts: 7,735 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Why you would ever destroy a CD I do not know. I have had my issues with not having backed up files in the past. I still do not have a correct system in place, but putting backup copies of files on one of my 8 systems, I should not be too far off when tragedy hits again.

    (So what are you doing with your old P2?)
    Collector and Researcher of Liberty Head Nickels. ANA LM-6053
  • DAMDAM Posts: 2,410 ✭✭
    Why you would ever destroy a CD I do not know.

    Mainly because it was a "work in progress". It wasn't a rewriteable CD, and it only had about 1/4 of the overall information I ended up with. I hadn't taken the time to make a copy after I had completed putting all the information in the spreadsheet. image


    (So what are you doing with your old P2?)

    I'm still using it. I needed something newer to handle the media work I plan on doing. It's great for spreadsheet work. I'm planning on keeping it for a while.

    My main purpose posting this, as Glenn pointed out... "As cheap as backup media is today, please backup anything worth backing up" (I recently got 100 CD-Ws for free, after rebates, from Best Buy. So cost wasn't an issue.), was to remind others of the importance of backing up/making copies of your work. For fellow forum members, that would be coin collection information. You just never know. I don't want anyone else to have to go through the same thing as I have to reconstructing the data again.

    Dan
  • dbldie55dbldie55 Posts: 7,735 ✭✭✭✭✭
    CD's are cheap, and CDRW are sometimes unreliable. Put it on a CD, label it, store it and forget it. If you need it, you have it, if you don't it is not taking up any space. While I need to automate my back-ups ( I did mange to lose months worth of work on my liberty nickel site once), I do have back ups from every few days, and have the site running on 4 machines. If my main machine goes down, I would not loose much. I also have backups on CD's that I would have to dig to find and the info is outdated, but something is better than nothing. Also kind of fun to look at some of the info on backups from years ago. I found things I thought were long gone.



    Collector and Researcher of Liberty Head Nickels. ANA LM-6053
  • WalkerGuyWalkerGuy Posts: 126
    I know you have already learned your lesson, so no "Mom" comments.
    I feel your pain! Good luck on the re-creation!image
  • DAMDAM Posts: 2,410 ✭✭
    Walkerguy,

    Thanks for "sparing the rod". image

    One upside is, you get to know your collection... well!
    Dan
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