[rescue] bulk erasing DLT tapes (or, more specifically, NOT)

[Robert Darlington]

Hi Curt,

I'm really not sure I understand what you're asking.  My old DLT drive
will take most DLT tapes below 40/80 (or was it 35/70?).  As far as
magically making them higher density, no.  There are physical
differences between the cartridges and the media.

-Bob

On Jan 19, 2008 12:34 AM, Curtis H. Wilbar Jr. <rescue at hawkmountain.net> wrote:
> Robert Darlington wrote:
> > Hehe, make use of that old crappy autochanger!  I use my old dell
> > powervault (storagevault?) for erasing 8 tapes at a time, and by that
> > I mean overnight.
> >
>
> But will it erase a 20G tape into a 40G tape (or even vise versa) ?
>
> I'm wondering if the reason the VS80 doesn't do this is because it has more
> tracks ?  and as such may have a thinner read/write head... making a
> situation
> like writing 360K disks in a 1.2M drive that had previously been formatted/
> written by a 360K drive.... ???
>
> -- Curt
>
>
> > -Bob
> >
> > On Jan 18, 2008 10:01 PM, Curtis H. Wilbar Jr. <rescue at hawkmountain.net> wrote:
> >
> >> OMFG...  I used to worry about keeping magnetic media near magnetic
> >> fields...
> >> I wouldn't think twice at this point about storing a DLT IV tape near a
> >> computer
> >> monitor, speaker, or large permanent magnet even...
> >>
> >> I started with a RS video tape eraser (6 amps).... heh... the DLT tape
> >> laughed...
> >>
> >> I think got off ebay a heavy bulk eraser for professional audio/video
> >> erasing...
> >> 15A .... yowza... heavy... big, loud (the hum), makes a strong field...
> >>
> >> The f'ing DLT tape is still lauging at me ?  What do you need to erase
> >> these,
> >> a thermonuclear EMP ?!?!?!?!
> >>
> >> I've exposed a tape to 1 minute topside, one minute bottom side... I can
> >> still
> >> READ the f'ing contents !
> >>
> >> This all started as I have tons of 20G formatted DLT IV tapes, but now
> >> have a
> >> VS80 drive (40G format)....
> >>
> >> Unreal.... guess I need a degausser that uses 240V and draws like 40A or
> >> something....
> >>
> >> Or do I just need to leave it on mine for like 10 minutes (it seems to
> >> cut out
> >> (thermal protection?) after 1 minute even though it is rated for a 10
> >> minute on
> >> duty cycle) ?
> >>
> >> Anyone in the MA/RI area with a degausser that can actually erase these
> >> things ?
> >>
> >> New (professional) units rated for DLT erasure are simply out of my
> >> budget....
> >>
> >> -- Curt
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> rescue list - http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
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