Oh well it happened yesterday... As the PC, which is connected to a UPS, appears to have shut down correctly, I guess it's just co-incidence but the hdd with our pictures, etc. started acting up after a power cut yesterday. According to fsck, the disk is clean but it looks like the controller is on the way out - lots of lock ups and resets.

Anyway, I moved the disk to a USB caddy and for some reason found it works better (fewer resets, etc.) at USB 2 speeds (the device is USB 3). It took time but I've managed to back the photos and a handful of documents I need up so I guess I've been lucky.

I should have new hdd tomorrow and will think about the other bits the old hdd holds then. A number of CDs are in ogg format which isn't compatible with some devices here, stuff recorded from tv will come round again and some will never be watched, etc. I might be better off starting from scratch with some things.