In one example, a method is provided for data restore request and data assembly processes. Initially, a data range required by an application residing is identified at the client. The data range can embrace less than all the contents of a file with which the data range is associated. Next, a request is formulated at the client that includes the identified data range, and the request is then transmitted to a datacenter where the file was previously backed up. The requested data is subsequently transmitted from the data center to the client in an unassembled form. The client then assembles the received data and is able to perform various operations on the assembled data.