Data guides
Backup tapes: see how much data you have, then export it.
Pick a system to see two things: how to check how much data is in it, and how to export a copy. No form, no sign-in.
Backup tapes
Archives & other
How to see how much data is in Backup tapes
- Count the tapes and note their format (e.g. LTO-5)
- Read the labels for dates and contents
- Check whether you still have a drive and software that can read them
Record tape count, format and date range; capacity per tape is an upper bound, not actual data.
How to get a copy of your Backup tapes data
- Label each tape with any known date and system
- Check whether you still have a compatible tape drive and backup software
- Find any encryption keys or passwords
- Hire a data recovery or IT vendor to restore them
- Copy restored data to current storage
Tapes need a compatible tape drive and the original backup software to restore, so a data recovery or IT vendor is usually needed.
Tapes degrade over time and may be encrypted, so confirm you still have the right hardware, software and keys.
These instructions are written by DataFrenzy from each vendor’s public help pages. Menu names can vary by plan and change over time; the official link on each guide is the final word. Screenshots come from each vendor’s own help pages and videos or, where noted, from third-party tutorials credited under the image; dashed outlines are illustrations, not screenshots. Looking up a size or preparing an export never sends anything to DataFrenzy.