Inventory the complete reading chain
Before you begin: No equipment required. Work from a photograph or an item you already own; this lesson does not require powering it on.
An obsolete format is more than a medium. Reading it may require a compatible device, a connector, software, a file decoder and enough documentation to identify the contents. Separate those dependencies before declaring data lost.
Use three confidence labels: observed on the object, supported by a named manual, and unknown. Physical resemblance is not compatibility. Preserve original media and create working copies before experimenting with recovered files.
Worked example & observations
Synthetic inventory: a camera card is labelled with a format but its capacity is unreadable. Record the label, photograph both sides and leave capacity unknown. Next identify the exact camera and reader models and consult their supported-media lists. A connector adapter changes the plug; it does not necessarily add protocol or capacity support.
Your turn
You have recovered a JPEG from an old card. Which two things should you preserve beyond a resized web copy, and why?
Show answer and reasoning
Keep the original recovered file, including its metadata, and a record of the source medium and recovery steps. A resized copy may discard metadata and detail, while provenance explains where the file came from. Retain the physical medium until recovery is verified.
Watch for: Do not insert unknown media into an incompatible drive or treat a successful directory listing as proof every file is readable. This starter is a documentation method, not a tested recovery procedure.
Published and planned
Published: this starter lesson, worked example and exercise with an answer.
Planned: Verified format dossiers with manufacturer manuals and documented recovery examples.
Validation: source review and mathematical checks where applicable. Photography captures, audio listening and device workflows have not been performed for these lessons. Synthetic cases are labelled; no personal media or field observations are implied.
References
Original AUWEN teaching and examples. Sources reviewed 14 September 2026.
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