Recovery operation status indicator for a tape drive system

A tape drive, comprising:

• a magnetic tape having data recorded thereon;
• a head for recording and reading data on the tape;
• a tape reel for spooling the tape in a data recovery operation;
• an indicator that the data recovery operation has started;
• means for periodically determining a remaining recovery time based on an estimated radius of a tape spool being recovered;
• and
• a display of the determined remaining recovery time.

A computer-program product for indicating status of a data recovery operation in a tape drive, the product comprising a storage medium readable by a computer and embodying program instructions executable by the computer to:

• visually indicate that the data recovery operation has started;
• periodically determine a remaining recovery time based on an estimated radius of a tape spool being recovered;
• and
• display the determined remaining recovery time.