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

[Curtis H. Wilbar Jr.]

Ethan O'Toole wrote:
>> I don't see how a chipper-shredder would help Curtis reuse his media.
>>     
>
> If you bulk erase DLT tapes, they won't ever work again... will they? I 
> thought there is header and info on the tape that if erased will cause the 
> drive to reject the tape.
>   

DLT is bulk erasable.  one of SDLT or LTO is too (one uses optical 
tracking on the
back side of the tape, the other uses magnetic tracking written on the 
tape... a bulk
erase being fatal to the latter of course... via wikipedia you can find 
out which uses
optical tracking vs magnetic tracking).

If Patrick has a degausser that draws 12A and works fine, then mine 
should be
around the same size.... what's the deal with mine not erasing... <sigh>.

"Real" (professional) degaussers rated for DLT cost thousands....  (I 
could buy a lot
of tapes for that price... new even....).  Anything I've found on the 
used market so
far has either no published specs to determine if it should do DLT.  I'm 
thinking of
taking the plastic 'top' off so I can get the tape closer to the magent 
("big honkin
transformer" (with only a primary winding :-) )).

-- Curt

>
>
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> Ethan O'Toole
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