Degaussing Service

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If you have DLT tapes that are not able to be recorded on, chances are they need to be degaussed. The formatting needs to be removed and using the "erase" function on the tape drive does not erase the old formatting. The only way to remove the formatting is by degaussing the media.

Degaussing of the media consists of passing the media through a strong alternating magnetic field.  The alternating magnetic field removes all magnetic patterns from the tape, thus eliminating all data and formatting.  The degaussing process ensures the user that their next recording will be at its best.

DLT specific issues:

Information taken from the HP website   HP Surestore DLT drives - Degaussing used DLT IV tape media HP Surestore DLT1 drives only read and write to new DLT IV tapes. DLT1 drives cannot overwrite tapes written by other DLT drives (i.e. DLT40, 80), even when the tapes are erased, the format will remain on the tape. In order to reuse media written in other formats, degauss the media properly, as DLT4000 format written by DLT40/70/80 drives saturate the media magnetically more than the Thin Film/MR head used in DLT1 can. Although media that is inadequately degaussed may still be accepted by the DLT1, residual data will likely cause poor performance and high error rates. Why will DLT1 not overwrite DLT 4000 format media unless I degauss the media? DLT 4000 format written by DLT 4000/7000/8000 drives "saturates" the media magnetically more than the thin film/MR head used in DLT1. It is possible that in the course of overwriting, some of the residual DLT 4000 format will interfere with the new DLT1 format, causing higher error rates or inability to read the new DLT1 format. Degaussing is a process of "randomizing" the magnetic particles (or dipoles) that are embedded in the media formulation -- effectively restoring the media to a "virgin" state. Degaussing is also sometimes called bulk erasing. Erasing a tape is not the same as degaussing as the format itself will still be resident on the tape.

A recent "Technical Support" document from Fujifilm stated that "... after proper degaussing, the quality of subsequent data recording should be unchanged or even improved."

Here's what other Companies are saying about degaussing tape.Benchmark
Fuji (Fujifilm Computer Products) - Lists tape formats coercivity and degaussing details.

Many of our degaussers are being used in magnetic media manufacturing and testing facilities. i-Cornerstone degaussing service uses the same type of degaussers used in the manufacturing process to completely erase your audio, video & data tapes, diskettes & hard drives.

Caution: Degaussing will erase all information from hard drives including the control track information leaving the hard drive unusable.

If you have our products erase your tapes, you will find that:

audio & video tapes will be left magnetically neutral just as they were when they were new. You will hear better audio with less "hiss" in the background; and you will see better video with less picture jitter, better tracking, and less video noise.

data tape, diskettes & hard drives will be left magnetically neutral and free from any computer virus and formatting. Media with "bad track or sector errors" can sometimes be magnetically repaired by degaussing and reformatting.

Degaussing your tapes:

• Increases data security.

• Achieves better recordings.

• Eliminates computer viruses.

• Saves money by recycling or reusing media.

• Prevents previous recordings from being seen or heard.