Tape Data Recovery
Backup tapes hold decades of business records, and the drives and software that wrote them are often long gone. DriveSavers recovers data from modern and legacy tape formats, including LTO, for businesses, legal teams and archives.
Tape problems we recover from
Unreadable tapes
Tapes that won't load or return read errors.
Physical damage
Snapped, creased, stretched or contaminated tape media.
Legacy formats
Older formats with no working drive in-house.
Discontinued software
Backups written by software that no longer runs.
Overwritten headers
Tapes partially overwritten or relabeled.
Ransomware recovery
Offline tapes used as a source after an attack.
Before you call
- Stop attempting to read damaged tapes.
- Store tapes upright, away from heat and magnetic fields.
- Note the tape format and the software that wrote them, if known.
- Gather any catalogs or indexes you have.
- Call us for a quote and shipping instructions.
How we recover tape
- Damaged media is handled and conditioned in our lab.
- Engineers read raw data independent of the original backup software.
- Files are extracted and returned in a usable format.
- Chain-of-custody handling for legal and compliance requests.
- Purchase orders and NET terms for approved organizations.
Turnaround times
ASAP
Recovery begins upon receipt of your device, 365 days a year, including evenings, weekends and holidays.
1 to 2 business days
24 to 48 hours during business hours, Monday through Friday. The fastest Standard turnaround in the industry.
5 to 7 business days
Completed during business hours. Smart devices such as phones and tablets take 10 to 14 business days.
No payment is needed to start. You pay only when your recovery is complete.
Frequently asked questions
Can you read tapes when we no longer have the backup software?
Often, yes. We read the tape data directly and extract files without the original software.
Do you handle large tape collections?
Yes. Talk to an advisor about scope, timeline and pricing for multi-tape projects.
Can tape help after a ransomware attack?
Yes. Offline tapes are often the cleanest source after an attack. See ransomware recovery.