If you got "Error is not recoverable: exiting now" You might have specified incorrect path references.
[me@host ~]$ tar -xvf nameOfMyTar.tar -C /someSubDirectory/
tar: /someSubDirectory: Cannot open: No such file or directory
tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now
[me@host ~]$
Make sure you provide correct relative or absolute directory references e.g.:
[me@host ~]$ tar -xvf ./nameOfMyTar.tar -C ./someSubDirectory/
./foo/
./bar/
[me@host ~]$