Breadness Buzz - Computer Catastrophe...

NOTE: If this is your first Breadness Buzz, or you've been part of our tribe but missed earlier posts, visit the Breadness Buzz Archive here and catch up on some Breaducation written especially for you. It's a great way to meet like-minded artisan sourdough aficionados and be part of this journey I started back in 2016. And now for this week's Buzz...

Computer Catastrophe...

THIS SOLID STATE DRIVE IN OUR HOME OFFICE SYSTEM FAILED SUDDENLY

Diverging for a moment from our usual more lighthearted subject matter, I felt it important to share this real-life experience in the hopes it might save you much time and money, and bring you peace of mind.

One of my myriad hats is that of a computer professional. It started in the late 80s when desktop computer technology was beginning to empower people with tools to create professional graphic design and typography work. I had been publishing my recording studio newsletter and traditional methods of preparing camera-ready shooting boards for printing were costing a good deal of money. It looked like with a computer and the right software, I could do graphic design, typesetting, and database management of all of my contacts.

This was in the days of floppy disk storage and very expensive hard drives with a whopping storage capacity of 10mb!

I learned early on about backing up data. Software applications didn't have to be backed up because if anything happened to the drive, programs could be reinstalled from their original discs. But whatever was created using the software was saved in some kind of computer file format and that had to be backed up and stored safely. My first backup system used floppy discs and I had over 30 of them for each backup!

Over the years, disc capacities, backup tools and strategies kept evolving, but I always had some kind of redundancy. That is until things got so busy that backing up religiously kinda fell off the radar.

One of the strategies was to replace as many drives as possible with newer, faster, more reliable drives. Just a few years ago, I replaced the hard drives for 3 of our computer systems with Solid State Drives (SSDs). Unlike hard discs, SSDs have no moving parts so theoretically, they should last longer than mechanical drives. Unfortunately, a couple weeks ago, I found that not to be the case.

The very drive pictured above suddenly became inaccessible. It contained 2 virtual drives with the programs on "drive C" and data files on "drive D." But when I rebooted the computer, I got the dreaded black screen with a message: "cannot locate the boot drive." This is not a message you ever want to see! For all practical purposes, this SSD drive was DEAD.

Even trying every YouTube "How to access your inaccessible drive" video, this drive was not going to be communicated with.

Most of the data on this drive hadn't been backed up in a while. Oops...

Fortunately, the hard drive the SSD replaced was still in the computer case and I plugged it in so the programs would be accessible. The data on that drive, however, was 4 years old!

Alright... time to investigate Data Recovery companies for the SSD. Ouch! Most started at $1000 and went up from there! I'm sure it's well worth it if they're the only ones who can pull your data out of a locked hat! But that was not in my budget.

So I kept looking and I eventually found 300 Dollar Data Recovery in Studio City.

With over 4000 5-star reviews, I was encouraged!

3DDR has a 3-tier pricing model that offers $300 flat-fee recovery, with $400 and $500 tiers for more challenging work. It all depends on the condition of the drive when it's brought to them. If you tried to recover the data yourself, it could make the job more difficult.

They have an online "chances" form to fill out, and based on the data you provide, they will respond with a chances percentage. Based on my brand, model number, and the fact that I didn't do anything drastic to access the data, I was told that my chances were 90% that the drive could be accessed and the data could be recovered. This was based on their experience with the same model number SSD that I had.

There was always the possibility that the drive couldn't be accessed and the data was lost. But I had confidence it was going to turn out alright.

Once I was notified of my chances, the next step was filling out their drop-off form. Similar to the "chances" form, this one included instructions for providing a transfer drive for the recovered data to be transferred to. I purchased a brand new Toshiba Canvio USB 3.0 external hard drive, a workhorse for offline storage that I use for our systems and my clients' archives as well. I've never had one of these Canvio drives fail.

The data recovery process can take up to 2 weeks and 3DDR offers an expedited option for a couple hundred dollars more (are you thinking of that Clint Eastwood movie right now?). I didn't exercise that option but to my surprise, I got an email in 2 days that my drive was accessed and they included a file listing for me to verify what I needed was on that list. I responded that it was and gave them the okay to transfer the files onto my Canvio.

The next day I got an email that my drive was ready for pickup and all I had to do was pay on line and come get both drives. When I got the transfer drive home, I located the key data files we needed to get back on track, and copied them over. I then ordered new SSDs for all our computers and am in the process of replacing each of them.

I also have a new backup system in place with Canvio drives for the backups.

I was fortunate to find an affordable data recovery place in LA. And I now have a daily backup system in place so that I shouldn't have to go through this challenge ever again.

And I hope that if you depend on computers as much as we do, you'll make sure your backup strategy is in place and is used daily...

Here's what we have for you this week...

— Organic Artisan Sourdough Country Loaf (Batard, Boule, Petite, Bread Bowl)

— Organic Artisan Sourdough Country Rolls (4 per bag)

— Organic Chocolate Artisan Sourdough Loaf (Boule, Petite)

— Organic Artisan Cinnamon Raisin Maple Pecan Sourdough Loaf (Boule, Petite)

— Organic Artisan Cinnamon Raisin Maple Pecan Sourdough Rolls

— Organic Artisan Sourdough Flatbread Crisps (Naked, Tuscan Herb, Smoked,

— Amazing Fresh Coffee, Holland Process (Cup or Demitasse)

— Organic/non-GMO Breadness Brûlée Muffins (Sugar-free)

— Organic Choco-Chip Chookies (Gluten-free, Grain-free, Sugar-free, Keto/Low-carb)

— Chocolate Chill (Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Keto, Vegan)

— Popsicles (Strawberry Coconut)

And our awesome lineup of Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Butters, Cheese, Balsamic Vinegars, Tapenades, Nut Butters, Fruit Spreads/Jams and Sourdough Pasta and Tomato Products from Italy!

Random Acts of Breadness is located at 2214 West Magnolia Blvd in Burbank, 2-1/2 blocks east of Buena Vista on the south side of the street. Order at breadness.com/#shop, or via DoorDash. We also ship locally and nationwide.

We're open Thursday Friday & Saturday 12 to 6pm, and Sunday 11am to 4pm.

Happy Sourdough Summer!

Randall Michael Tobin
Artisan Baker/Chef
Breadness.com

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2214 West Magnolia Blvd.
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