That's awful news, Radu! Very sorry to hear about the crash. Hopefully, you'll be able to recover your work that's lost in crashed computer limbo.

Always helps to have a backup external HD for this sort of reason. You can get one w/ lots of storage space for a reasonable cost. Under $150? is actually not a bad way of storing your art either. But you probably don't want to hear that right now in the midst of frustration.

The only comfort I can offer is that sometimes the EXPERIENCE of making art is more valuable than the art itself. It is sometimes a healthy thing to reflect on past work as transient, so that you can look towards the future rather than the past. In this sense, a loss of old work can almost be an opportunity for catharsis. That's rather vague, so here are 2 concrete examples:

1) I have a close friend who made a bunch of awesome sculptures in college that everyone loved. When school was over, he left it all behind or threw it in the trash. Some folks thought that he was nuts, but it was in fact a very practical move. The most valuable aspect of it all was the creative process involved in the work's evolution and construction. Keeping it was comparatively irrelevant. Think of the very elaborate and beautiful Tibetan mandalas that get destroyed as soon as they're finished. There's a lot to be learned by this ritual.

2) I once picked up this really cute Vietnamese chick in a bookstore in Paris... we had some wine... hung out... had a nice time... She was an artist too, so I leant her my sketchbook (had a lot of work in it). I liked the spontaneity of having other people I meet do some quick stuff in there. Long story short, we did not meet up again, and I lost all that work. Most of my high school sketches, which was perhaps my most feverishly creative period. Gone. Nothing I could do about it either.... except start another book, and maybe hold on to it a bit tighter. C'est la vie, non?

Anyway, not sure if that is helpful or annoying, so I'll just leave it and say happy holidays to you and your family. Best of luck in the new year, Radu! With the computer, school, art, life, and everything else. I had great fun getting to know you this year.

Thank you very much for the comment, I appreciate it and it certainly isn't annoying.
It's not all bad news since I got a new PC, kinda feels weird in Photoshop without lag, so I think things will go smoother, howver, I do wish I'd get a Vietnamese chick for all this headache, too. It's been a real pain ordering parts since everyone is trying to buy the same thing for Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to your family aswell, Rob.

Sorry about the computer troubles, that sucks quite a bit... Hooray for lag-free Photoshop though!

Happy New Year!

I feel your pain and/or frustration. Good luck with the salvaging!