How tu re-use old DLT tape on a VAX ?

[Richard Brodie_1]

"is there a init/force "like" option please ?"

OVERRIDE.

INIT/OVERRIDE=(ACCESS, EXPIRATION, OWNER)

That should stop it looking for a header when you try to initialize it.

[Joseph Huber_1]

Ah sorry I overlooked
"magnetic tape file access is nonblank", maybe Mark's hint to overwrite the expiration is the right direction.

[Volker Halle]

Gilles,

$ HELP/MESS FILACCERR - which is not available on V5.5-2, but on V6.x - says:

FILACCERR, magnetic tape file access is nonblank

Facility: SYSTEM, System Services

Explanation: The accessibility characteristic in the HDR1 label is not
blank and the file cannot be accessed without overriding the
field.

User Action: Mount the magnetic tape with the /OVERRIDE=ACCESSIBILITY
qualifier. (The VOLPRO privilege is required or you must be
the owner of the tape.) Otherwise, use another volume.


Volker.

[Volker Halle]

Gilles,

what you may also want to learn from this thread is:

- please provide detailled information and ESPECIALLY detailled error messages, including the commands used.

OpenVMS utilities typically provide very good and descriptive error messages.

With HELP/MESSAGE (in V6.x or higher), you'll immediately get help from VMS itself.

You can also use your favorite search engine in the WEB to search for the message identification text string yourself (FILACCERR in this case) or even look up the message in the 'OpenVMS System Messages and Recovery Procedures Reference Manual'

Volker.

[Jan van den Ende]

Gilles,

>>>
FILACCERR, magnetic tape file access is nonblank
<<<

That strenthens my previous suggestion.

A "strong enough" moving magnetic field WILL blank it out pretty thoroughly!

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe

[Gilles Salvin]

Thank you everybody.

The OS is too old and I don't have any option for INIT except /QUEUE.

I'll use blank tapes as long as I could find some.

Thanks again

Brgds,

Gil.

[Volker Halle]

Gilles,

OpenVMS (even V5.5-2) supports INIT/OVER !!!

Please try $ HELP INIT device /OVER and see for yourself.

Volker.

[Volker Halle]

a little bit late to start learning Vms.


It's never too late to start to learn a real operating system ;-)

Volker.

[Gilles Salvin]

Thank you but same error occured : nonblank

Gedeon > INIT /OVERRIDE=(ACCESSIBILITY,EXPIRATION,OWNER_IDENTIFIER) G$DLT:
_Label: Test
%INIT-F-FILACCERR, magnetic tape file access is nonblank

[Volker Halle · Accepted solution]

Gilles,

one last try: do you have VOLPRO privilege ($ SHOW PROC/PRIV) ?

Or try SET PROC/PRIV=ALL

Volker.