tar error unrecoverable?

[Curt Tresenriter]

On Sat, 25 Jan 2014 12:46:04 +0000
David Fletcher <dave at thefletchers.net> wrote:

> I also use tar.
> 
> My method:-
> 
> 1) use cron and some scripts to create a tar file of everything
> important to back up on my little network, on my desktop computer.
> 
> 2) copy the tar file to external device (flash drive, hard drive,
> tape, whatever) number 1.
> 
> 3) copy the tar file directly from external device 1 to external
> device 2.
> 
> 4) repeat step 3 up to external device X.
> 
> 5) copy the tar file from external device X to a different computer,
> in my case my little netbook machine.
> 
> 6) test extract the tar file on the different computer. This makes
> damn sure that you have X good copies, and that any copy you pick WILL
> extract without problems.
> 
> 
> This was learned through the experience of checking out a microsoft
> backup program many years ago, that said it had successfully backed up
> to several floppies, but finding that it told lies. Also placing a
> single copy of a backup archive file on an LS120 disk. That almost
> turned into a very painful experience.
> 
> Also, hard drives have become cheap, so these days I NEVER wipe a
> working installation. Put in a fresh drive and use that, just in
> case. A hard drive caddy system is a great investment.
> 
> Dave
> 
> 
> 

Good advice which you can be sure I'll follow after this experience.
The drive I wiped was holding backups I no longer needed so I devised a
new plan to use it.
If I can figure out the "SMART status: Unsupported" issue that
Gsmartcontroll reports maybe I still will be able to use it.