On Tue, 24 Oct 2000, Bernhard R. Erdmann wrote:
>Paul Tomblin wrote:
[snip]
>> reformat? I don't have a bulk eraser. I tried using "mt setdensity
>> DDS-2", but it didn't take.
>
>mt weof 5
>or
>mt erase
>or
>dd if=/dev/zero bs=32k of=$TAPE
In my own experience, using only a dd won't change the tape's format. My
drives all see and use the original drive blocksize and compressions
setting and use it until I overwrite it with a weof. I don't know if
the erase will do it or not. I know when my drive is shoeshining on a
tape header, an erase won't do it. I'm certain the dd won't...
(4mm DAT of various vintanges, EXB-8500, EXB-8505).
(Did you mean for the dd to overwrite the whole tape? Usually just
whacking the header is sufficient. If not, add a count=NN to it.)
--
Joi Ellis
[EMAIL PROTECTED], http://www.visi.com/~gyles19/
