This isn't strictly related to NetBSD, so please reply to me, and not
to the list.  I'll summarize if people are interested.

I purchased a DAT drive a couple months ago, and am getting to the
fourth or firth backup on some of my tapes.  There is a light on the
drive that comes on when it thinks the tapes are marginal, or the
drive needs to be cleaned.

I've been cleaning the drive once a month, as they recommend (doing
weekly full backups), so I don't think that's the reason the light is
comming on.  So, the alternative is that a DAT is only good for four
or five recordings before it starts degrading.  Does this jive with
others' experiences?

I seem to remember a discussion on this long ago, where someone else
claimed that DATs only last for a limited time.  Does this sound
correct?

It doesn't bother me if that's what I need to expect.  I'd just like
to know for sure.  Thanks for any feedback you send my way...

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  Michael L. VanLoon                           michaelv@MindBender.serv.net
        --<  Free your mind and your machine -- NetBSD free un*x  >--
    NetBSD working ports: 386+PC, Mac 68k, Amiga, Atari 68k, HP300, Sun3,
        Sun4/4c/4m, DEC MIPS, DEC Alpha, PC532, VAX, MVME68k, arm32...
    NetBSD ports in progress: PICA, others...
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