A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: selecting a first tape to write a first copy of a first portion of data to, sending an instruction to write the first copy of the first portion of data to a first partition on the first tape, wherein the first tape has at least the first partition and a second partition, selecting a second tape that is different than the first tape to write a second copy of the first portion of data to, and sending an instruction to write the second copy of the first portion of data to a second partition on the second tape, wherein the second tape has at least a first partition and the second partition. The first partition on each of the first and second tapes is closer to a beginning of the respective tape than the second partition on the respective tape.