30 Mar
2000
30 Mar
'00
9:49 a.m.
Tapes seem to fail in a variety of ways. I'm not
an expert but these are my
personal experiences and my working theorys, buyer beware!
1) They fail to stay magnetized.
I'm guessing due to heat changing the magnetic properties of the tape.
Now are you talking the physical properties of the tape, or the 'bits' of
data on the tape?
2) The oxide flakes off.
It seems the adhesive between the mylar and the oxide "dries out" or some
such and it just peels off. Usually leaves behind a clear spot.
This was one of my chief concerns. Any idea how long a 4mm takes?
4) They evaporate.
Now I've never ever seen a partially evaporated tape, however I have on
more than one occasion been absolutely positive I put some tapes in a box
in the closet, only to come back some time later and to have them
completely gone. Then again it could just be a "senior moment" :-)
I've seen this problem. What's worse is when it's a locked safe they
disappear from!
Zane