Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!wpg!epca!ellis
From: ellis@epca.UUCP (Ellis Carter)
Newsgroups: comp.periphs.scsi
Subject: Bad Magic sync error when verifying tape with cpio -itc
Keywords: SCSI drive or TAPE problem
Message-ID: <189@epca.UUCP>
Date: 3 Jan 91 04:34:58 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Ellis Carter Associates, Metairie, LA
Lines: 22

I am having a problem with either with tapes or drives.  I presently have
three wangteck drives and all of them seem to be  giving the same problem
from time to time.  Bad magic or sync error.  I think that I have narrowed
it down to tapes but I can't believe that 3M tapes are THAT bad.  I have some
generic "cheap" tapes that seem to work well. I am always having problems
with the 3M tapes. 

Additionally, is there any source that I can use to format or check tapes
for errors or retention.  I thought I was doing well by trying to blast a
few tapes with this big electromagnet, but this proved to make the tapes
totally unusable under Unix.  I can, however, take them over to an MSDOS
machine that I have and use them in a backup and verify.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Please send responses to
email ellis@epca.wpg.com .  I offer my thanks in advance for the contri-
butions.

Ellis Carter
-- 
Ellis Carter
ellis@epca.wpg.com
(504) 456-2245