Recover 4mm backup tape?

[danhoo]

Here's a random question for all you knowledgeable folk.

I've got an ancient 4mm tape backup, that I last backed-up to around the year 2000. Assuming it's not completely unreadable, I'd like to get some files off of it.

Naturally, I don't have a 4mm tape drive anymore, nor does anyone, it seems. Also, I'm not entirely sure what I used to make the backup -- I think it was Windows Backup, possibly on Windows 2000.

I tried looking up services online that would make a CD/DVD of the tape contents for you, but I couldn't find anything in the US that wasn't made for corporations and didn't seem exorbitantly expensive. Does anyone know of any place that offers this sort of service? Given the age of the tape, is it likely that it's unreadable and not worth trying to recover from?

[Karak]

Originally Posted by danhoo

Here's a random question for all you knowledgeable folk.

I've got an ancient 4mm tape backup, that I last backed-up to around the year 2000. Assuming it's not completely unreadable, I'd like to get some files off of it.

Naturally, I don't have a 4mm tape drive anymore, nor does anyone, it seems. Also, I'm not entirely sure what I used to make the backup -- I think it was Windows Backup, possibly on Windows 2000.

I tried looking up services online that would make a CD/DVD of the tape contents for you, but I couldn't find anything in the US that wasn't made for corporations and didn't seem exorbitantly expensive. Does anyone know of any place that offers this sort of service? Given the age of the tape, is it likely that it's unreadable and not worth trying to recover from?

I tried to get something recovered from an ancient tape a couple years ago. No where offered anything that wasn't insanely expensive. I opted to bite the bullet and live with the loss. All told I lost about 5000 in music creation tools. But that should show you how expensive recovery may have been for my backup.

[biosc1]

Let me check. I have an old tape drive at work that we haven't used in years. I never threw it out. Can't recall what type it is though.

[Khrymsyn]

Honestly, the cheapest way to do it would be to find a tape drive and recover it yourself. Yes, exhorbitantly expensive is likely going to be what you'll find anywhere, as tape backup pretty much was/is a corporate function and companies that cater to business charge bucketloads (see adobe products =P ).

Thing is, I think you need to find a compatible drive for exactly the type of tape you have. I don't think you can get a DDS4 drive to read a DDS1 tape, for example. Plus, I believe those drives pretty much only came in SCSI forms, so you'd need to also find a SCSI interface card, which, back in the day tended to be for ISA slots, and modern computers tend not to have those. So it'll be really tricky to do, but not impossible.

[biosc1]

Originally Posted by biosc1

Let me check. I have an old tape drive at work that we haven't used in years. I never threw it out. Can't recall what type it is though.

Sorry, my old drive is an 8mm. Otherwise, I could have suggested you ship me the tape and I try and recover it.

[Stmfuller]

yeah, this is something I would buy off ebay, craigslist or from a refurber. you will pay many moneys less doing it that way.

[danhoo]

Originally Posted by Khrymsyn

Honestly, the cheapest way to do it would be to find a tape drive and recover it yourself. Yes, exhorbitantly expensive is likely going to be what you'll find anywhere, as tape backup pretty much was/is a corporate function and companies that cater to business charge bucketloads (see adobe products =P ).

Thing is, I think you need to find a compatible drive for exactly the type of tape you have. I don't think you can get a DDS4 drive to read a DDS1 tape, for example. Plus, I believe those drives pretty much only came in SCSI forms, so you'd need to also find a SCSI interface card, which, back in the day tended to be for ISA slots, and modern computers tend not to have those. So it'll be really tricky to do, but not impossible.

Yeah, I thought about this route. It'll be tricky to get all the pieces (God, I haven't thought about SCSI in so long...). Maybe I'll hit one of those computer recycle places and see if they've got old hw that still works.

Originally Posted by biosc1

Sorry, my old drive is an 8mm. Otherwise, I could have suggested you ship me the tape and I try and recover it.

No worries, and huge thanks for checking biosc1!