Use DDS4 tape as DDS3 tape

[Fei Wang]

I have a DDS3 tape drive and some DDS4 tapes.
Can I just use DDS4 tape as DDS3 tape? I am
assuming that should not be a problem but like
to confirm with experts here.

Thanks,
Fei

[Joshua Scott · Accepted solution]

You can use a DDS3 tape in a DDS4 drive, but I don't think it works the other way around.

-Josh

[Leif Halvarsson_2]

Hi,
No, DDS drives is backwards compatible but not forward. DDS 4 tapes can only be used in DDS 4 and DAT 72 (DDS 5 ?) drives.

[Thierry Poels_1]

agree, backwards compatibility only
(the tape will probably eject automatically because it cannot be recognized)

regards,
Thierry.

[Fei Wang]

Thanks guys, what I mean is that I have some
blank DDS4 tapes, I want to use a DDS3 drive
to write information using DDS3 format on a
DDS4 tape. Is that possible?

[Stf]

No it's impossible. sorry. :-(

[Joshua Scott]

Not possible. The DDS4 tape has a different length than the DDS3 Drive will accept.

PS- if you have the equipment just try it out. There wouldn't be any harm done. As Thierry said, it would probably just eject it automatically.

-Josh

[Fei Wang]

Just tried. Like Thierry said, the tape automaticlly eject out:( guess I will need to buy some new tapes.

Thanks all for the help.
Fei