[wellylug] Magnetic tape question

[Peter Jones]

DLT cartridges are 105mm square and contain a single reel of 1/2" tape.
(Very similar to IBM 3480 but much greater data capacity).

The only checking method that I am aware of would be to load the tape
into the DLT 1 drive and see if they can be written to. At present they will
load okay, but the backup program* says they are write protected 
(which they are not, write protection on a DLT cartridge is by moving
a slide on the cartridge case.) Because they show as write protected, 
it is not possible to try and over-write / erase / format them
*tried Veritas and W2Ks native backup program

OTOH if you have an eraser I would like to try that if possible.
Peter

-----Original Message-----
From: Lindsay Hunter [mailto:klhunter at paradise.net.nz]
Sent: Sunday, 21 December 2003 4:25 a.m.
To: wellylug at lists.naos.co.nz
Subject: Re: [wellylug] Magnetic tape question


Have you tried the bulk eraser used in doing 1/4 inch audio tape?  The 
worked on 7" reels by rotating the reels with the eroaser running.  It 
was just a 50 cycle ac field that redistributed the magnetism.  I may 
have one here.  Long time since I needed to use it.  Do you have a 
checking method?  I am trying to recall the dimensions of the tapes you 
are processing.

On the other hand, other magnetic media is erased by deleting and 
rewriting on the tape.  Is that not practicalble?

Lindsay

Peter Jones wrote:

>As another poster noted, it looks like I'm SOL. Bit of a pisser as the
tapes
>are around $80
>to replace and we have quite a large box of them.
>
>I tried various recording studios but they don't have anything of the
>strength required
>
>Peter
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Colin Klenner [mailto:colink at clear.net.nz]
>Sent: Thursday, 18 December 2003 7:31 p.m.
>To: Wellington Linux Users Group
>Subject: RE: [wellylug] Magnetic tape question
>
>
>Further investigation again has yielded some more information - the
>electric units are still not giving out a good enough field to do much
>good/damage to the tapes.
>
>Colin
>
>On Fri, 2003-12-19 at 00:37, Brenda Wallace wrote:
>  
>
>>maybe you should try a train instead?
>>
>>On Fri, 2003-12-19 at 00:32, Klenner, Colin wrote:
>>    
>>
>>>I was suggesting it based on some background information I have on
>>>      
>>>
>something
>  
>
>>>that happened in London underground - hmm maybe even our electric units
>>>would be better.
>>>
>>>I asked a person knowledgeable about the busses and he said they would
>>>      
>>>
>not
>  
>
>>>generate a strong enough field to do the tapes over.
>>>
>>>Colin
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: wellylug-admin at lists.naos.co.nz
>>>[mailto:wellylug-admin at lists.naos.co.nz] On Behalf Of Damon Lynch
>>>Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 1:04 PM
>>>To: wellylug
>>>Subject: RE: [wellylug] Magnetic tape question
>>>
>>>
>>>On Thu, 2003-12-18 at 01:47, Klenner, Colin wrote:
>>>      
>>>
>>>>Try taking a trolley bus through town, placing tapes on floor if 
>>>>possible near the motor - the magnetic field from them should be more 
>>>>than sufficient.
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>You are speaking from experience here... and if so, by accident or
>>>      
>>>
>design!!
>  
>
>>>Damon
>>>
>>>
>>>-- 
>>>Wellington Linux Users Group Mailing List: wellylug at lists.naos.co.nz To
>>>Leave:  http://lists.naos.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/wellylug
>>>      
>>>
>>-- 
>>Brenda Wallace <brenda at wallace.net.nz>
>>    
>>

-- 
Lindsay Hunter
021 636 926
04.934 1702



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