What does your trace file say? Look that up and post results.
WEhen looking up your error I get:
shamrock% oerr ORA 01579
01579, 00000, "write error occurred during recovery"
// *Cause: A write error occurred during recovery
// *Action: Consult trace files for the nature of the write error, and
// correct error.


- Magnus

ps: are you using RMAN to recover or command line?