[inforoots] Binder (Was: Recovering data from old media)

[John C Green Jr]

John C Green Jr wrote:

>[snip]...He tried to recover data from tapes that were over a decade
>old.  There was a mix of 200, 556, and 800 BPI.  As there
>were mostly 556 BPI he only did them.
>
>Results ...
>Trying to read directly: Total failure
>Cleaning with do-it-yourself tape cleaners available at the
>time: Mostly failure
>Sending out to commercial cleaners: Excellent results.
>[snip]...
>
>Regards,
>JC Green

Dick Weaver rweaver at ix.netcom.com added:

>As I understand it the significant problem with most magnetic
>tape is the binder (tapes without a binder, "metal evaporated",
>have other problems).  See, for example,
>
>http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub54/2what_wrong.html
>
>dick w

Now an unverified anecdote I heard second hand ...
CDC 6600s were typically installed in pairs with 64
tape drives each.  One customer continually complained
about tape read errors.  A CDC FE realized the problem
was the use of Brand X cheap mag tape.

He brought three quality brands (IBM, BASF, and Memorex)
into the shop.  Firmly mounted samples of the three and Brand X.
Crossed all four with Scotch tape firmly pressed against the
four.  A quick jerk to pull up the Scotch tape revealed no
IBM, BASF, or Memorex oxide on the Scotch tape and no oxide
on the Brand X tape.

Problem solved.  The customer switched to a brand name tape.

Regards,
JC Green