[2025-07-03] After 12 Years of Failed Attempts, the Man Who Lost His Hard Drive

[TEXITcoin]

The saga of James Howells represents one of the most astonishing tales of lost digital wealth in cryptocurrency history. After 12 years of persistent efforts, this IT professional from Newport, South Wales has finally abandoned his quest to recover a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins – now valued at an astounding $742 million – that was accidentally discarded in a local landfill back in 2013.

Read on

https://www.paris2018.com/news/12-years-failed-attempts-man-who-lost-his-hard-drive-containing-742m-bitcoin-finally-ends-his-search/

[Stalker22]

The article begins with a statement that the man is supposedly ending his search for lost bitcoins, but ends with Howells remaining defiant, stating: "Im not giving up the fight."  LOL!

[TEXITcoin]

Journalism 2025! either that or he has a completely different plan...

[cr1776]

The article begins with a statement that the man is supposedly ending his search for lost bitcoins, but ends with Howells remaining defiant, stating: "Im not giving up the fight."  LOL!

A lot of these places just like to churn out articles with little extra value.

[m2017]

The article begins with a statement that the man is supposedly ending his search for lost bitcoins, but ends with Howells remaining defiant, stating: "Im not giving up the fight."  LOL!

After 12 years of fruitlessly wasted years, this BTC-enthusiast is ready to spend the same amount or more? A desperate man. After all, his chances are decreasing every year due to the physical destruction of the HDD under the influence of the external environment.

If Howells had directed his efforts to other types of activity during these 12 years, he could have earned enough bitcoin instead of wasted time.

Sometimes need to be ready to accept the loss, so as not to lose even more.

[cr1776]

The article begins with a statement that the man is supposedly ending his search for lost bitcoins, but ends with Howells remaining defiant, stating: "Im not giving up the fight."  LOL!

After 12 years of fruitlessly wasted years, this BTC-enthusiast is ready to spend the same amount or more? A desperate man. After all, his chances are decreasing every year due to the physical destruction of the HDD under the influence of the external environment.

If Howells had directed his efforts to other types of activity during these 12 years, he could have earned enough bitcoin instead of wasted time.

Sometimes need to be ready to accept the loss, so as not to lose even more.

Yeah, he might have earned some since, but it does seem like an uphill battle to recover them even if the drive was found.  I suppose they could use some hardware to recover it but who knows.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

Yeah, he might have earned some since, but it does seem like an uphill battle to recover them even if the drive was found.  I suppose they could use some hardware to recover it but who knows.

Very unlikely the data can be recovered. Between the fact that trash in a landfill is heavily compacted which may have physically destroyed the drive and the presence of corrosive fluids and gases there is near zero chance of successfully recovering the data even if the drive itself can be recovered.

[mid9tclaw02]

The saga of James Howells represents one of the most astonishing tales of lost digital wealth in cryptocurrency history. After 12 years of persistent efforts, this IT professional from Newport, South Wales has finally abandoned his quest to recover a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins – now valued at an astounding $742 million – that was accidentally discarded in a local landfill back in 2013.

Read on

https://www.paris2018.com/news/12-years-failed-attempts-man-who-lost-his-hard-drive-containing-742m-bitcoin-finally-ends-his-search/

i think at this point giving up is the right thing to do because from the article he is not standing a chance winning

[highalch]

Very unlikely the data can be recovered.

Soaking the HDD even once could render it useless - you wont be able to mount it, but rain or dust or contact with non-chemical waste in general will not erode the magnetically stored data itself. With the proper tools, it might still be recoverable.

[InvoKing]

The article begins with a statement that the man is supposedly ending his search for lost bitcoins, but ends with Howells remaining defiant, stating: "Im not giving up the fight."  LOL!

A lot of these places just like to churn out articles with little extra value.

Attractiveness. That is the modern journalism as the other member said. Just write an attractive title with artificial intelligence then write whatever you want, AI encouraged.

[cr1776]

Very unlikely the data can be recovered.

Soaking the HDD even once could render it useless - you wont be able to mount it, but rain or dust or contact with non-chemical waste in general will not erode the magnetically stored data itself. With the proper tools, it might still be recoverable.

Yeah, there is always a slight chance, but the longer it is there the less likely it will be successful.