NetBSD Bob wrote:
> 
> I am wondering if it might be a track alignment and if I can
> fully erase (bulk erase maybe?) the tapes somehow for a fresh
> run.  I don't see any driver driven way to erase the TK50 tapes?
> mt, both in Ultrix and NetBSD has no erase capability.   I tried
> writing zeros and ones and then random, but that did not help
> much.  I sense I really need a clean erase on these old tapes.
> 
> What, in particular in the mechanism needs to be looked at for
> cleaning other than the head (idiot lights maybe?)?

Did you check:


http://www.netbsd.org/Documentation/Hardware/Machines/DEC/vax/tk50.html

cheers