Isn't it ironic!

[Meryl]

I have hear so many sad tales of woe over EHD failures lately, so today, in a fit of enthusiasm I decided to back up all my Scrapbook pages to CD's as a double back up.

So.... Took the chance to tag them first, and no I didn't back up my database first, nor did I optimize...... and all of a sudden got the windows blue screen of death. I restarted, (had unplugged EHD first to make sure it was not that) all well but couldn't open ACDSee, I just got egg timer.

I have tried a couple of things suggested by the very helpful team at ACDSee but to no avail! I can't get it running again :cry::cry::cry:

Lear from my mishap - BACK UP and OPTIMIZE regularly and often, especially before starting a big tagging session!!!!

I have posted at ACDSee, but if anyone has any words of advice I'd love to hear

[sherryva]

Oh Meryl-
I read this and got that sinking feeling in my stomach- I have soo been there- its a very
frustrating feeling..I ran a "Got back up?" thread in March- I lost so much- now I have DVD's and 3 alternating EHD's!

I have no advice, sorry, except grab a cup of coffee and put it in perspective- you still have your stuff! (some of us lose our harddrives and photos, kits etc without having any backup) If I read your post right you didn't lose your layouts or kits- just the tagging? That has to make you feel better (somewhat).

I had a problem with ACDSee once way back when. I went to windows explorer found where my data base was stored and copied and pasted a copy of the database to a new location in my documents (so it wouldn't write over any database info that maybe it had retained) and reinstalled the software. Then I opened acdsee and said restore from backup (dont know how much of the database you will recover, but maybe something?) If I remember correctly there is an option when you try to reinstall to "repair" vs re-install.

Hang in there! I know it feels like disaster, but when it happened to me, I took it with a grain of salt and was grateful that it wasn't a complete hard drive failure- sometimes these near death experiences get us doing backups more religiously and prevent even bigger disasters down the road. The folks at Acdsee are pretty smart- and you can even google to find other forums on other sites where people post their issues and solutions.

I will be hoping it turns out well for you.

[Meryl]

Oh Sherry I am so sorry for your loss. Yes, if it were everything I'd be crying gallons, but as things are its only my tagging (painful as that is) - just hoping I will get some help, I am too scared to try anything more right now.

[emandlivsmom]

Oh Gosh...how heartbreaking it is!!! time to back up...What type of CD's would you recommend buying? Do you back up all your kits, photos, and pages onto CD's? That must be a TONS of CDs!!!

[Abby]

Meryl .. did you do a backup of your tagging relatively recently? If so, you can redo that, up to that point, and then you'll only have to tag whatever is since that point. Gad, that was worded awkwardly, but I hope you know what I mean. I've done that in the past, and at least only had to tag my 'recent' things, and not the whole lot (at which point I would have been a sobbing hulk in a corner)! ...I am so sorry for you :(

[Abby]

I copy all my kits to two different EHD's and make a cd of my kits and any photos that are 'special' .. once I've printed my layouts, I don't worry so much, as I can always scan them if I should want to. It does take lots of cd's :) ... When I have a big bunch of kits, I burn them to a DVD too :) ... paranoid, that's what I am! I've had good luck with TDK cds from Costco, which are much cheaper than most of the smaller stores.

[Meryl]

Oh Gosh...how heartbreaking it is!!! time to back up...What type of CD's would you recommend buying? Do you back up all your kits, photos, and pages onto CD's? That must be a TONS of CDs!!!

Sorry I said CD and I mean DVD - I was amazed, I could fit a whole years scrapbook pages, that's the .psd file and the web preview and odd other bits onto 2 DVD's which is not bad!

Like Abby I have 2 EHDs and i also have all on my desktop, gets exhausting!

[Meryl]

Meryl .. did you do a backup of your tagging relatively recently? If so, you can redo that, up to that point, and then you'll only have to tag whatever is since that point. Gad, that was worded awkwardly, but I hope you know what I mean. I've done that in the past, and at least only had to tag my 'recent' things, and not the whole lot (at which point I would have been a sobbing hulk in a corner)! ...I am so sorry for you :(

Last backup is what i will go for probably, that would not be too bad. Right now though, I can't even open ACDSee, click on it and I just get the egg timer :(

[Abby]

I know you've shut off the whole computer and gone to look out the window for a minute before turning it on again - that's the first thing we need to do, and often forget to do in our panic :) ... Yikes, Egg-timer is not a good thing to see :) ... have you written to them yet? They 'seem' to be fairly good at answering when you do ask questions, from what I've heard. Do you still have your original download 'file', so you could just reinstall the whole thing and then update your tags after all the stuff has been recognized?

[Meryl]

I know you've shut off the whole computer and gone to look out the window for a minute before turning it on again - that's the first thing we need to do, and often forget to do in our panic :) ... Yikes, Egg-timer is not a good thing to see :) ... have you written to them yet? They 'seem' to be fairly good at answering when you do ask questions, from what I've heard. Do you still have your original download 'file', so you could just reinstall the whole thing and then update your tags after all the stuff has been recognized?

Oh yes, done the shut down, the cup of tea, even a nights sleep has not fixed it!!!!

They are good about replying, but its a very slow process!!! can't/Won't phone America from here so its email, and many hours elapse between questions (I am not being impatient, I know they are busy!) - I am beginning to think re-install it will be! painful as that sounds.

I see the recommended route is to download the trial, and then insert your code (which I found!!!).

Right now feeling :cry::cry::cry: - problem is ACDSee is so darn good, I so totally rely on it for everything I do!!!!

[Abby]

Don't blame you for feeling like crying - I use it all the time too - don't know how I ever found a thing without it! It sure picks up all the folders fast though, and then you can just replace your old tags, and go from there (and we'll ALL remember to update them regularly from now on)!! Please keep us posted on how it goes .. and I'll keep things crossed and held until then :)

[faerywings]

From my totally non-techie opinion, I would say that your database got corrupted. There is a way to fix it, don;t ask my how other than 1. Hand to hubby and 2. Smile sweetly, and say ..help... :)

But it might give you a place to start looking around. Try a search for ACDSee and Corrupted database, and you might get instructions.

If that is it, then you can restore to your last back up and not lose too much.

Good luck!

[Meryl]

From my totally non-techie opinion, I would say that your database got corrupted. There is a way to fix it, don;t ask my how other than 1. Hand to hubby and 2. Smile sweetly, and say ..help... :)

But it might give you a place to start looking around. Try a search for ACDSee and Corrupted database, and you might get instructions.

If that is it, then you can restore to your last back up and not lose too much.

Good luck!

lol and I did exactly as you suggest! Fortunately i am blessed with a hubby who a) Extremely knowledgeable b) extremely careful and c) amazingly patient (ie how many times has he said back up, back up, back up?

My back up was way out of date, but he soehow managed to get lots right for me, so I am now back up and running, on a HUGE clean up and organize spree and backing up hourly!

Thanks so much for your interest!

[Jeanrx]

My EHD is giving me fits too. When I try to put in my kits & pictures, I get an error message. I have to unplug it or do a dskchk. I can access what's already in there, but this is most annoying. I think it might have something to do with Vista & will probably have to reformat it. In the meantime I put everything on DVDs just in case.

[Meryl]

My EHD is giving me fits too. When I try to put in my kits & pictures, I get an error message. I have to unplug it or do a dskchk. I can access what's already in there, but this is most annoying. I think it might have something to do with Vista & will probably have to reformat it. In the meantime I put everything on DVDs just in case.

lol I have just read your reply top dh and his comment was that he'd be looking at a new EHD!

Don't risk loosing your memories, so glad for the DVD's!

[Abby]

It's just sad how vulnerable it makes you feel, though - when you can see your treasures slipping away :)!! Back up, back up - :)

[Abby]

So glad your husband was able to get you fixed up Meryl!! Good lesson for us all!!