Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!bionet!agate!ucbvax!ucbvax.berkeley.edu!"Dan Karron
From: Dan Karron@ucbvax.berkeley.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sgi
Subject: Recycled tape tester
Message-ID: <9102231757.AA05895@karron.med.nyu.edu>
Date: 23 Feb 91 17:57:39 GMT
Sender: usenet@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: karron@cmcl2.nyu.edu
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 34


Is there a program/script to verify old tapes (qic tapes) ?

I am sitting in a pile of old tapes we want to re-record/recycle.
I don't know the length of most, and I don't know which have real bad
spots on them, or which just have bad data on them.

I could use something to 

1) size the tapes and 

2) test (destructively) the condition of the media, with a
    write-read test over the entire length.

Also, since the tapes are not all rated for 10,000 bpi, is there a way
to run the write-read tests at progressively lower density to see if there
is any life in the tape at low density ? Some of these tapes predate
10,000 bpi drives.

Thanks!

dan.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| karron@nyu.edu (E-mail alias that will always find me)                      |
| Fax: 212 263 7190           *           Dan Karron, Research Associate      |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *           New York University Medical Center  |
| 560 First Avenue           \*\    Pager <1> (212) 397 9330                  |
| New York, New York 10016    \**\        <2> 10896   <3> <your-number-here>  |
| (212) 263 5210               \***\_________________________________________ |
| Main machine: karron.med.nyu.edu (128.122.135.3) IRIS 85GT                  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

NOTE PHONE NUMBER CHANGE: The Med Ctr has changed from 340 to 263 exchange.


Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com