Post B2HYopfc6FabTLNkKu by fea186c2a4678dbc437704eed2160846e8a781e5fb17056e9bb333840d5bdef2@mostr.pub
 (DIR) More posts by fea186c2a4678dbc437704eed2160846e8a781e5fb17056e9bb333840d5bdef2@mostr.pub
 (DIR) Post #B2HYoomfOXdYivfrgu by 5c50661b092cc786b55cb5d69149b129bdcc8e05d7238cc653de9f465ed69f91@mostr.pub
       2026-01-14T16:54:52.000Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       The firmware on my main computer died (??). 2017 iMac Pro. All data lost. Lesson: Computers die. Make sure you backup all your important stuff regularly!
       
 (DIR) Post #B2HYopfc6FabTLNkKu by fea186c2a4678dbc437704eed2160846e8a781e5fb17056e9bb333840d5bdef2@mostr.pub
       2026-01-14T17:11:29.000Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       Maybe it was just the drive that went. Could be worth putting a new one in and reinstalling the OS.
       
 (DIR) Post #B2HYoqNvRV2Dgm78PA by fea186c2a4678dbc437704eed2160846e8a781e5fb17056e9bb333840d5bdef2@mostr.pub
       2026-01-14T17:13:31.000Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       I think the typical expected lifespan of a drive is about 5 years. Sometimes a little longer depending on the drive
       
 (DIR) Post #B2HYqxZpfpOgZdgzeS by jeffcliff@shitposter.world
       2026-01-14T17:17:52.631350Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @fea186c2a4678dbc437704eed2160846e8a781e5fb17056e9bb333840d5bdef2 @5c50661b092cc786b55cb5d69149b129bdcc8e05d7238cc653de9f465ed69f91 that may have been true in the 90s.  it isn't true anymore.  hard drives routinely last >10y nowadays.
       
 (DIR) Post #B2HZ0v9HYZMdwG1W4G by fea186c2a4678dbc437704eed2160846e8a781e5fb17056e9bb333840d5bdef2@mostr.pub
       2026-01-14T17:19:24.000Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       That's why I said depending on the drive type. Drives were still being used in 2017 that may have been projected to last exactly as long as I said.
       
 (DIR) Post #B2HZ5xMsjTcyGmmma8 by Suiseiseki@freesoftwareextremist.com
       2026-01-14T17:20:34.440191Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @jeffcliff @5c50661b092cc786b55cb5d69149b129bdcc8e05d7238cc653de9f465ed69f91 @fea186c2a4678dbc437704eed2160846e8a781e5fb17056e9bb333840d5bdef2 HDD's last about 5 years of runtime before the proprietary control software decides to corrupt itself by design.I've come across an old single platter drive that worked fine after 25 years (slightly more recent drives had issues where the motor lubricant would go solid after a few years), but haven't seen a new drive last that long.
       
 (DIR) Post #B2HZ85WLONd28MECem by jeffcliff@shitposter.world
       2026-01-14T17:20:58.237494Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @fea186c2a4678dbc437704eed2160846e8a781e5fb17056e9bb333840d5bdef2 @5c50661b092cc786b55cb5d69149b129bdcc8e05d7238cc653de9f465ed69f91 ok here's some hard data2% failure rate/y.
       
 (DIR) Post #B2HZ8U6fywx2NzPYcS by fea186c2a4678dbc437704eed2160846e8a781e5fb17056e9bb333840d5bdef2@mostr.pub
       2026-01-14T17:20:48.000Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       Either way, this is still the first place I'd start testing on a computer that old if the goal is to keep using it.