That's a good idea about reviewing the service contract. Another option is, well, I suppose I could use my Google Drive, but I've never been comfortable with that, either!

Not just lately, I'm afraid. I have a box of hard drives that have pooched in one way or another. One of them dates back to the era of the parallel port connections -- does that date me? In any case I don't think I've had a hard drive that's lasted more than a year or two before it stands up, waves with a psychotic glint in its eye, and dies.