Wouldnt you know my laptops hdd dies with some of my stuff on it, so I go to back up my other computer (good reminder ) and i find that the CD-R drive, zip drive, floppy, and all the usb ports dont work. Nor does it have internet. On top of that the hdd is making a loud grinding noise. So theres basically no way to backup anything. So i get an idea how to back it up, and then it gets a BSOD and the hdd just dies right there!! Worst of all it had about every picture i have on that hdd. I havent used this computer in a while, since i got my new one, so i obviously havent backed up anythting in a while, and what i did back up a long time ago is old stuff i didnt need anymore. What are the chances of two hdd's dying at almost the same time?!?

These things can really give a person a headache sometimes!!

Have you guys ever had a computer(s) die like this before?

-Nick

I haven't had it die like that before, but at one time when I was younger, I had a lot of important file for school and pictures from my digital camera become lost forever on my laptop hard drive. It was a very sad day in my computer world.

I've had one HD die over night while shut down for no reason.

But never two at one time - unless my house burned down.

Do you have protection? E.g. UPS, surge protection, et al?

I have surge protection on all of my electronic stuff, although I do want to get a UPS. Anyone know a good one thats not too expensive?

-Nick

UPS systems are not inexpensive. Those that are cheap maybe a risk.

I'll be changing out soon when I move to a fully integrated APC-brand system.
(Though I'll retain the current system I have for other use.)

Please check out this thread on the same subject.

One should also have a PowerCo supplied whole house system at point of entry.
In many areas they are rentable, if not supplied as part of your powerco services.

It's not just a matter of saving your equiptment, but of saving your life possibly.

About 2 months ago I had symtoms of an HDD`failing. Which it did. I asked in the forums and the consensus was,it's getting ready to fail. So fortunately I got a large external and backed off all my pix, music and financials. Which I now do weekly. But the next day after the HDD failed on my desk top,my power adapter connection on my laptop snapped. I replaced the HDD myself the next day. The laptop was under warranty and took 6 weeks.

Remember Murphy's Law? "What ever can go wrong, will go wrong, and if there is a posibility of two things going wrong, the one that will do the most damage will go wrong."

But then again, there are those who claim that Murphy was an optomist!