how "reformat" DLT IV tape from 20/40 to 40/80?

[Josef Grosch]

On Tue, Nov 23, 2004 at 11:15:12PM +0100, Palle Girgensohn wrote:
> Hi!
> 
> I tried degaussing a tape, but the degaussed tape is not accepted by the 
> taper. The tape is ejected after about 30 s, the Media light flashes, 
> manual says:
> 
>  An inappropriate tape has been
>  loaded into the drive. The tape
>  should automatically eject.
> 
> Do I need to format the tape? I really doubt that, and how would I be able 
> to do that anyway if the tape is not accepted by the taper? Was it not 
> enough degaussed? Also seems odd, doesn't explain why the taper ejects the 
> tape?
> 
> Any ideas welcome!
> 
> Regards,
> Palle

Most likely the tape is defective. These tape drives keep track of the
number of defects it finds on a tape. If that number goes above a certain
count, 20 I think, the tape is rejected. Also, the drives tries to read
and/or write a header on the tape. If it can't the tape is rejected.

Your best bet is to throw that tape away and get another. I used to have a
box full of tapes that my 8mm drive rejected. I thought that I might be
able to get them to work. Repeated degaussing never did the trick.


Josef

-- 
Josef Grosch           | Another day closer to a | FreeBSD 5.3
jgrosch at MooseRiver.com |   Micro$oft free world  | Berkeley, Ca.
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