[Leica] Dead Seagate

[red735i at earthlink.net (Frank Filippone)]

I think the various comments about cost of data recovery and dead drives
need to be put in perspective......

First the cost of the drive, new, itself, right now... Figuring it is a  1TB
external drive, maybe $150  Maybe $250.  If you somehow void the warranty by
opening the drive and breaking the seal. Your "cost" is to replace the
drive... $150-250.    Of course, if you get lucky and there WAS a loose
cable, you are in fat city is a few minutes and with no cost to you.  ( If
you decide to use a third party recovery service, this is a really good
first attempt to fix the drive.  Do it before you send it in....   you have
nothing to lose.)

Second is the cost of the "data" on the drive.. which is the cost of
re-doing all the work therein.  How many hours?  How many dollars per hour
do you feel your time is worth?  ( remember this is a re-do... so there is
both some efficiency and some real loss of alternative use of your time.
600GB is a lot of data to lose and have to replace, but maybe some of it is
redundant to what is backed up already......so look at the data that is not
already backed up and ready to use....  The data from her 8GB of cards is
not backed up, so a re-shoot would be necessary to replace that data......if
that is possible.  If not, her cost of the shoot is lost.

The offsetting part of the second is the cost of data recovery.....all 500-
600 GB.... which Tina is getting an estimate on......  Say that the cost is
$1000.  That makes her overall cost $1000+ 250 = $1250.  ( this is a
business expense, so the cost is not like for us amateurs... it is a
business deduction for her...... a cost DECREASE of 33-45% out of her
pocket)

Opportunity cost.  If Tina feels her time is worth $20 an hour, the $1250
represents 60 hours of her time.  ( $50 an hour is 25 hours, or apply
whatever numbers you wish to use....)......  What could Tina do with an
additional 25-60 hours of time?  Generate another $5K in fees by shooting
something new?  This is NOT business deductible.... opportunity cost is a
direct out of pocket cost.

Data recovery is a shock to the wallet, but a bargain...... and for Pros, a
necessary evil of digital photography.

OTOH, if Seagate gets the drive for data recovery and is successful in
recovery, the cost to Tina is zero.  Her call as to the "smartness" of this
approach.   A third party is paid for,  and its reputation is based upon,
success.  Seagate's reputation is based upon adhering to its own
warranty.... which probably says something like... "best efforts";  up to
"so much in direct recovery costs"; or possibly my personal favorite
response...... "not feasible".  Once the drive has been sent to Seagate, the
approach of using a third party is lost.   The unrecovered drive will not be
sent back to Tina.

I feel badly for Tina, her choices are a) not good, and b) expensive.

Good luck.... may the data recovery Gods be with you......

Frank Filippone
red735i@earthlink.net