Preparing for the Unexpected: A Cautionary Tale
I never thought I’d be in this position. After all, I had been diligently backing up my family’s precious photo collection for years – or so I thought. Little did I know that my “bulletproof” backup plan would come crashing down, taking nearly a decade’s worth of cherished memories with it.
It started innocuously enough. A family member fell ill, and in the midst of the chaos, I noticed my Backblaze-protected RAID array had become corrupted. [1] No big deal, I thought – Backblaze had my back. Boy, was I in for a rude awakening.
The Harsh Reality of Rolling Backups
As it turns out, my understanding of Backblaze’s service was, well, a bit off the mark. You see, I had naively assumed that my online backup was an “archival” service, where my photos would be safely stored for eternity. [1] How wrong I was.
In reality, Backblaze operates on a rolling 30-day backup model. [1] This means that if a file or drive is deleted or corrupted, Backblaze will dutifully remove that data after just one month. And that’s precisely what happened in my case – by the time I realized my RAID array had failed, Backblaze had already wiped out the last remaining copy of my precious family photos. [1]
I’ll never forget the gut-wrenching feeling of losing virtually all the pictures of my departed loved one. [1] It was a harsh lesson in the limitations of certain backup solutions, and one that no family should have to endure.
Searching for a Miraculous Solution
In the aftermath of this devastating loss, I desperately scoured the internet for any shred of hope. Could there be a way to somehow recover my photos? [1] The pain of knowing that those memories were gone forever was almost too much to bear.
I came across numerous forums and discussions where others had faced similar tragedies. [2][3][4][5][6][7] The stories were heartbreaking, but they also offered a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to piece together the fragments of my photo collection.
Piecing Together the Puzzle
After sinking a small fortune into data recovery services, I managed to salvage a mere 500MB of my former 12TB photo library. [1] It was a drop in the bucket, but I clung to those scraps of memory like a lifeline.
Meanwhile, my friends and family came through in a big way, digging up additional photos that had been shared over the years. [1] While it wasn’t nearly enough to fill the gaping hole in my collection, it was a heartwarming reminder that I wasn’t alone in this struggle.
Rebuilding with Resilience
As I sat amidst the shattered remains of my photo archive, I knew I had to take drastic action to ensure this never happened again. No more relying on a single backup solution with a short retention period. [1] This time, I was going to build a fortress around my family’s memories.
I immediately signed up for a more comprehensive backup service, opting for iDrive’s generous 5TB plan that doesn’t automatically delete non-system drive data after 30 days. [1] But that was just the beginning.
I also set up a rotating system of external hard drives, with one copy stored in a safe deposit box and another mailed to a trusted family member every year. [1] It may seem like overkill, but after losing a decade’s worth of irreplaceable photos, I’m taking no chances.
Cherishing the New Memories
Of course, the photos that were lost can never be truly replaced. Those moments, those connections, those cherished memories – they’re gone forever. [1] But life marches on, and I’m determined to build new, equally meaningful recollections with my loved ones.
With my fortress of backups in place, I can now focus on capturing the present and future, safe in the knowledge that those memories will be preserved for generations to come. [1] It’s a bittersweet journey, but one I’m committed to walking with a renewed sense of purpose and resilience.
So, to any of you out there who have faced similar heartbreaks, know that you’re not alone. The road to recovery may be long and arduous, but with the right precautions and a bit of creative problem-solving, you can rebuild your photo collection and ensure your family’s memories are safeguarded for years to come.
References
[1] Knowledge from https://www.reddit.com/r/backblaze/comments/gykhsd/today_i_lost_12_tb_of_backblaze_protected_family/
[2] Knowledge from https://community.spiceworks.com/t/safest-way-to-store-family-photos-and-videos/446004
[3] Knowledge from https://www.reddit.com/r/photography/comments/rvtccg/has_anybody_else_ever_lost_510_years_worth_of/
[4] Knowledge from https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-stop-feeling-depressed-after-losing-6-years-worth-of-data-from-my-phone-over-30K-photos-videos-important-information-etc-The-thought-of-losing-all-my-memories-of-the-last-6-years-is-crippling-my-day-to-day
[5] Knowledge from https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8127213
[6] Knowledge from https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-cope-with-the-loss-of-4-years-worth-of-photos-of-friends-family-and-lost-loved-ones-And-I-know-I-only-have-myself-to-blame
[7] Knowledge from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/13/i-lost-a-decade-of-photographs
[8] Knowledge from https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252994302
