Abstract: The present invention, in particular embodiments, provides methods, apparatuses and systems directed to a removable cartridge which has a data storage device, such as a hard drive, that contains a data archive application and a loader or installer. In one implementation, the data storage device contains platform-independent archive data, and one or more differing platform-dependent archive applications. When the removable cartridge is connected to a host with no installed archive application, an archive application on the removable cartridge, corresponding to the host operating system, may be installed. Archive data is then translated to a format compatible with the host operating system and provided to the host.