FAQ

Yes, we can read the vast majority of old and proprietary tape formats. Our laboratory has a collection of hardware readers and specialized software covering dozens of obsolete or rarely used formats today, including open reel tapes, DAT, DDS, LTO, QIC, Exabyte, DLT cartridges, and many other industrial or proprietary formats.

For each medium entrusted to us, we precisely identify the format, select the appropriate reading equipment, and extract the data into a modern and usable format. In the case of an unknown or very rare format, we perform a preliminary analysis to assess the feasibility of recovery before any intervention.

#Tape #Magnetic Tape

Restoring exact files from a tape is possible in most cases, with complete preservation of the original directory structure (file names, folders, metadata). According to industry data, over 85% of magnetic tape restorations result in complete file recovery when the tape is not severely damaged.

Two recovery modes are available:

1. Exact File Restoration — Recovery of each file individually with its original path, metadata, and permissions. This option is possible when the tape is readable and the format (LTO, DDS, DLT, etc.) is identifiable.
2. Raw Tape Image — Bit-by-bit copy of the entire contents of the tape, provided when file-by-file recovery is not possible due to partial corruption, encryption, or a non-standard proprietary format.

A tape is considered too corrupted for a complete restoration only when the sectors containing the index tables or file metadata are physically unreadable. In this case, the raw image allows preserving all recoverable data for further processing.

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Yes, we have experience with many professional backup formats.

Even when the exact backup software is unknown or undocumented, we can often identify it through a hexadecimal analysis of the tape, a technique that examines the binary structure of the data to recognize the signatures specific to each format.

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Sending your magnetic tape for analysis is simple and secure thanks to three available options:

1. Hand delivery – Bring your tape directly to our center: ideal for fragile or high-value media.
2. Partner collection points – Drop off your tape at one of our many collection points located throughout France.
3. Shipping via secure carrier – Send your tape via a transport service with tracking and insurance (Chronopost, Colissimo Recommandé, etc.).

Recommended packaging: always use an antistatic bag and a rigid, shock-resistant box to protect your media during transport. Inadequate packaging can irreparably damage the recorded data.

#Tape #Magnetic Tape

Magnetic tape data recovery rates vary depending on four main factors: the type of tape (LTO, DLT, DAT, 8mm, etc.), the backup format used, the physical condition of the tape, and the volume of data to be recovered. A personalized quote is established after a free, no-obligation initial analysis, allowing for a precise evaluation of the feasibility and cost of the intervention.

Factors influencing the recovery rate

• Magnetic tape type: LTO (generations 1 to 9), DLT/SDLT, DAT (DDS), 8mm, QIC — each format requires specific equipment and expertise
• Backup format: native backups, third-party software (Veritas, Arcserve, Bacula, etc.) or proprietary formats
• Physical condition of the tape: tape in good condition, degraded, stretched, or physically damaged
• Data volume: capacity ranging from a few GB to several TB depending on the tape generation

Good to know: The initial analysis is carried out without obligation. The final quote is communicated before any recovery work begins.

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An encrypted backup tape is a tape whose data has been encoded using a cryptographic algorithm, requiring a specific key or software to access the original content.

Here's what happens depending on your situation:

• You have the decryption key or the original software: Data restoration is possible with a high success rate. Our technicians use your decryption tools to access the data before proceeding with the recovery.
• You no longer have the key or the software: Recovery is still technically feasible in some cases (weak encryption, partially accessible metadata), but becomes significantly more complex, and results cannot be guaranteed.
• Strong encryption without the key (AES-256, etc.): Without the cryptographic key, recovering the encrypted data is currently impossible, regardless of the service provider.

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Identifying the original backup software is not necessary to initiate a restoration. Through a hexadecimal analysis of the raw tape content, our experts can identify the software used during the initial backup—such as Veritas Backup Exec, Arcserve UDP, Veeam Backup & Replication, or Symantec NetBackup.

Each backup solution leaves a unique structural footprint in the data: proprietary headers, metadata blocks, indexing sequences. This digital signature allows us to reconstruct the exact technical context and adapt our restoration tools accordingly, even without documentation or access to the original system.

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Unknown tape content identification is a technical analysis process used to determine the format, codec, and data stored on magnetic or digital media, without requiring the original software or associated documentation.

We perform a comprehensive initial analysis to identify the contents of your tape. This procedure includes:

1. Format Reading and Detection – Identifying the tape type (DAT, DLT, LTO, U-matic, etc.) and the encoding system used
2. Metadata Extraction – Recovering header information to determine the original software or system
3. Diagnostic Report – Providing a detailed report specifying the identified content and available recovery options

According to industry data, more than 80% of tapes without documentation can be identified through analysis of format signatures and embedded metadata.

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A broken or stuck magnetic tape in a drive requires immediate professional intervention: any attempt at manual extraction risks aggravating the damage and making data recovery impossible. Our magnetic tape recovery experts have specialized equipment to extract stuck tapes without further data loss, and perform the necessary physical repairs in an ISO-certified cleanroom, a controlled environment eliminating particles that could permanently damage the media.

Steps to take if a tape is stuck or broken

1. Immediately stop the drive – Do not attempt to restart playback or force the tape to eject: each additional attempt increases the risk of irreversible laceration.
2. Do not disassemble the cartridge – Opening a cartridge outside of a cleanroom environment exposes the tape to dust and humidity that can destroy magnetic data.
3. Store the tape at room temperature – Avoid temperature variations (ideally between 18°C and 22°C) and excessive humidity before handling.
4. Contact our experts without delay – We will evaluate the condition of the media free of charge and define the appropriate recovery protocol (mechanical extraction, resplicing, head cleaning, or cleanroom transfer).

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The loss of readability of a tape by your backup software is a situation that can be recovered in most cases thanks to low-level reading, a technique for direct extraction of raw data that bypasses failing software layers.

Even if the software no longer recognizes the tape or the catalog is lost, our experts analyze the raw content of the tape byte by byte. In the vast majority of cases, we can reconstruct the file catalog and allow you to selectively restore your data.

Key takeaway: Do not attempt to rewrite or reformat the tape before attempting recovery. Any write operation may permanently overwrite recoverable data.

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The backup catalog is the index that allows backup software to list and locate files stored on a magnetic tape. Without it, the software can no longer identify the available data or restore it directly.

If the catalog is lost or corrupted, it is often possible to rebuild it by complete sequential reading of the tape: the process involves scanning the entire medium to reconstruct the list of files present, block by block. This operation is longer than a standard restore — allow several hours depending on the capacity of the tape (LTO-8: up to 12 TB native) — but it allows you to recover the data without depending on the original catalog.

Reconstruction is possible even without the original backup software (Veritas NetBackup, Veeam, Arcserve, etc.), thanks to specialized tools capable of reading the proprietary formats of the main solutions on the market.

#Tape #Magnetic Tape

Supported magnetic tapes include a wide range of professional and consumer formats: LTO (Linear Tape-Open), all generations (LTO-1 to LTO-9); DAT/DDS (Digital Audio Tape / Digital Data Storage), formats DAT-72, DAT-160 and DAT-320; DLT and SDLT (Digital Linear Tape / Super DLT); QIC (Quarter-Inch Cartridge); Travan; as well as proprietary and professional formats on request.

According to the LTO Consortium, the LTO format represents more than 90% of the professional magnetic tape market in 2024, with a native capacity of up to 18 TB per cartridge (LTO-9). Our technicians are trained to recover data from obsolete or damaged media, regardless of the format.

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