Losing iDisk Data (#2)

Yesterday we noted a user's experience losing some iDisk files during a storage size transition. We've since received a number of similar reports.

Mark Sylte writes "I was using locally-cached iDisk images on three machines, foolishly thinking this was a backup strategy. When Apple gave me additional iDisk space, my laptop generated numerous error messages when it tried to sync. I deleted the locally-cached iDisk (and foolishly, again, tossed the disk image thinking it was corrupted). I created a new one but this failed to copy anything but the top level of folders (nothing inside the document folder was copied).

"This appeared to my iDisk on the Apple server as if I had erased all my files which it promptly did on their end and then rolled out that erased version to all my other computers. I've read numerous stories like mine on the Apple support site.

"Apple, of course, if they ever answer your email to tech support, just tells you that they do not keep any backups of iDisk material and that you use the service at your own risk.

"This would be so easy to fix. Apple warns you if you attempt to sync and 2% or more of your calendars or address book entries have change. Why can they not do this for the iDisk document folder?"

Jamie Munro adds "A similar thing happened to me last winter; suddenly my iDisk was missing a lot of files. You'll find similar complaints on the Apple Discussions. After a lot of pestering Apple finally said they'd restore my lost files, but by then it was too late. The files had been lost for good. As a result I don't use my iDisk for anything serious anymore. If Marty hears anything from Apple it'll probably be them reminding him that the terms of service state that they are not responsible for lost data. You'd think that Backup.app would support network drives so you can backup your iDisk locally, but no such luck."

We previously recommended that users synchronize their iDisks locally. In some cases, however, this may not help as automatic synchronization routines can sometimes erase iDisk content locally -- even on multiple systems. The only other option is to make a hard, non-synchronizing backup of the iDisk.

Meanwhile, MacFixIt reader Marty Cohen, who reported the issue initially, has received some correspondence from Apple:

"Apple Tech Support has responded and asked for my Mirror Agent log file which is found in the following location: /Users/yourusername/Library/Logs/MirrorAgent.log

"Looking at the log file, it shows the deletion of each of my now missing files. I am awaiting their response to my sending them the log files as they requested."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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