BS: More Tech Problems

Subject: BS: More Tech Problems
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 19 Mar 13 - 06:08 PM

One of my clients recently had a problem with an external hard drive failure on which they kept their organisational shared directory. Unfortunately they had not done any backups for six weeks, during which time I had done a massive and very fiddly piece of work which it looks like I will have to do again as it looks like the data recovery company may not be able to recover the data.

So any advice about how I call recover from my brain PRECISELY how I did the work?

Subject: RE: BS: More Tech Problems
From: gnu
Date: 19 Mar 13 - 06:16 PM

I forget.

Subject: RE: BS: More Tech Problems
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 19 Mar 13 - 09:29 PM

The only method I've found that works is just to start doing the doitover and hope that the information you're organizing will remind you of what you did before. There should be some memory of how you sorted things the first time, so that it takes less thinking about other things you might do (or might have done) and other choices you had to think over and discard, and it usually does go a little faster on the repeat.

Of course the last backup that you do have might trigger some recollection of what directions you went between then and the final lost product, but even that may be a handicap if you've made lots of changes in the lost stuff.

Unfortunately, trying to tell someone how to think is a lot harder than telling them what to think, which is so easy almost anybody can do it (and they usually do).

John

Subject: RE: BS: More Tech Problems
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 20 Mar 13 - 04:50 AM

One of the problems is the client kept changing the spec of the system,so I need to work out what the final version of the spec was - all in the past by verbal briefings and the other part - the mind numbing part - was that I was extracting key outputs and actions from the workers' inconsistent notes.

If a reconstruction job is needed I have been given a two day budget to do it.

I am seriously thinking of saying to the client that if they give me a final written spec I will redesign from scratch as there is only 3-4 weeks live data in the latest backup.

I was seething yesterday as the data recovery was promised by last Friday, and the company rang to say it could take at least another week or longer(if at all), so the client should decide whether to keep its data management on hold or just reconstruct the lost six weeks - plus 2 and a half weeks catching up.

Luckily the disk failure was after the quarterly returns - so the precision of the recovered data is less critical.

I'm not particularly happy about the amount of pressure I will be put under - year end returns deadline is only 4 weeks away, and I will be on holiday for one of the weeks, but at least I will be stressed all the way to the bank.

Well, I now feel a bit more positive after my little diatribe. I hope that the client's director will appreciate all the hard work that people in the organisation (plus little me) will need to put in and not take it for granted. One client I had, before he retired, would always take the trouble to send a thank you email when his staff needed to go the extra mile.

Subject: RE: BS: More Tech Problems
From: GUEST,SPB at work
Date: 22 Mar 13 - 05:33 AM

Well, the client has now gone for reconstruction - I have got in my head   now what most of the system did - but looking at what is left after the last backup was restored, I still need to reconstruct 90% of the data, and audit the data relationships. (most of it mind numbing boring work, cramming it all into 12 hours of pure tedium, as opposed to a couple of hours tedium a week before, and then the catching up while waiting for the data recovery expert to not do his job)

Talk about stress!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: More Tech Problems
From: Bert
Date: 22 Mar 13 - 06:02 AM

I always work with the theory that 'If I can't do it again, I never really could do it in the first place'

Also when I am working I always back up anything that I wouldn't really want to do again.

Subject: RE: BS: More Tech Problems
From: GUEST,SPB at work
Date: 22 Mar 13 - 06:04 AM

Unfortunately the client has a strict 'no independent copy' policy, as the systems contain info about vulnerable adults, so I am 100% dependant on their backups.

Subject: RE: BS: More Tech Problems
From: Greg F.
Date: 22 Mar 13 - 09:04 PM

Sounds to me that since they screwed the pooh in the first place itshould be THEIR problem, not yours.

They got themselves into it - let them get themselves out of it.

Any responsinle outfit would back up data on a daily basis.

Subject: RE: BS: More Tech Problems
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Mar 13 - 12:00 PM

In my own line of work my experience is that the second time is faster with fewer false starts and segues and the result is cleaner and classier. Kind of like having dreamt it beforehand.

May it be so for you!

Subject: RE: BS: More Tech Problems
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 23 Mar 13 - 07:27 PM

Obviously the thread is mistitled, since the problem isn't a technical one. It's a MANAGEMENT PROBLEM since those who should have had the common sense to backup the records that are critical to the business, or to allow you to do it, failed to do so.

One advice, based on experience, is that it is quite risky to point out where the fault lies in many cases, although later one might make references (The "remember the time when ..." kind) to pitch a new contract to provide a proper system (?). As a contractor, you might think about it (for quite a while) or put it in your "pending projects" file (which of course you'll back up).

Most of the suggestions have been about as good as can be expected with respect to the recovery needed. BTDT (several tee shirts and a coffee mug for proof) - You have my sympathy, but about all you can do is "do what must be done."

Good luck.

John

Subject: RE: BS: More Tech Problems
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Mar 13 - 11:10 AM

The question on the floor is "So any advice about how I call recover from my brain PRECISELY how I did the work?"

My advice is:

1. Get caught up on your sleep. Your brain will function better.

2. Eliminate distracting noises and interruptions.

3. Start the project, and as Ebbie says, it will probably come back to you.

4. Postpone thinking about whose fault it is and how angry you are. Save those thoughts for a day when you are walking on the beach and can throw rocks in the water to burn off the frustration.