Although not shell related, this phenomena is worth a little more exploration
 because were it not for hard drives, we wouldn't be here on Conch-L!

 Anyone notice a pattern to these drive failures, like the same brand name
drive or computer,
 owner doesn't occasionally perform virus or cleanup scans, owner leaves
computer on
all the time, owner turns it off/on frequently, owner's shell collection
has or had Byne's
Disease, owner cleans shells in close proximity to computer, owner uses a
collection management
software package that is new, a beta version and still being debugged,
owner downloads files
 from the Internet frequently, owner square dances in the room where
computer is set up,
 owner lives in an area where U.S. adversaries beam high powered microwave
jamming signals
 to upset U.S. sugar and cigar producing industries, etc.

Seeing the beginning of the Y2K programming error is like seeing the early
symptoms
of a gunshot wound. Drive failures are explained another way.
I thought Y2K blame hype was coming, but Y1.999K-August is stretching it a
little.

 Good discussion though on backup and recovery actions.

 George


At 12:34 PM 8/16/99 +0000, you wrote:
>Well join the ever growing crowd!!! 4 friends of mine including myself have
>had massive hard drive failures , two were lost completely , the others
>were recovered but I'm hearing more and more accounts of failures . I'm
>wondering if we are seeing the beginning of the Y2K programimg error ??
>Someone hear asked about storage , if you slave an extra hard drive say one
>of at least 20-30 gig, you cam store massive files with ease and you don't
>have to hunt around through your zip disks , you say "20 to 30 Gig? who has
>that kind of money?" well a 20.3 gig drive is $319.00 including tax at best
>buys , can't beat that price. well good luck on your project , ferreter