The evolution of tape backup standards is similar to that of standards for many computer components. Using tape to backup computer data became a common practice long before accepted tape backup standards existed. At first, reel-to-reel systems (somewhat similar to old reel-to-reel audio tape recorders) were used to store data. The most commonly used tape--quarter-inch--eventually developed into a de facto standard. But each tape system manufacturer used its own data-encoding specifications for backup tapes.

Variations included not only the number of tracks and data density on the tape, but also the interface used to connect the drive to the computer. In 1972, more than a decade before the introduction of the first IBM-PC, the 3M Company introduced the first quarter-inch tape cartridge designed for data storage. The cartridge measured 6x4x5/8 inches. Inside this cartridge, the tape was threaded onto two reels.

The tape was moved from one reel to another during the recording or read-back process by a drive belt. Because of the reliability of this tape cartridge, the demand for tape backup systems began to grow, despite the lack of established standards for storing data on these cartridges.

The result of this lack of standardization was that quarter-inch tapes written on one manufacturer's tape backup drive generally could not be read on another manufacturer's quarter-inch tape drive. One problem created by this situation was that the way particular manufacturer’s encoded data on a tape continued to change.

If a particular model of tape drive became disabled and the manufacturer had discontinued that particular drive and no longer used its encoding format, the data stored on tapes written on the disabled drive could be unavailable until the drive had been sent for repairs.

In the event the manufacturer could not repair the drive, the data was lost forever. As with other computer components, such as hard drive interface cards, consumers were the force behind standardization. Consumers clamored for standardized tape drives that could read tapes created on different tape drives manufactured by different companies.

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