2008-05-06 John Eells <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 3420-4, -6, and -8 could definitely be used for both 1600bpi and 6250bpi but > *not* for 800 bpi. I don't recall at this point whether the odd-numbered > models (-3, -5, -7) could read 800 bpi or were 1600 bpi only. If the latter, > I think you might need a 2420 or a 2401 to read the tapes.
I am sure that *some* 3420 models could handle 800 BPI, though perhaps it was a feature rather than a simple model number. But what I'm puzzled about is where the tapemap program is getting its information. If it is managing to read anything at all from the tape, then the drive is capable. But perhaps tapemap is just reporting on what was specified in JCL or its control cards? Where did that dataset name PW.PREV.ELPH come from? In any case on a 3420 you shouldn't have to specify DEN= for reading; the drive will figure it out. One more subtle possibility is that the tape was written with multiple densities, which can turn this into a much more interesting forensic operation. There are several people who read this list who can convert 800 BPI tapes, as well as commercial services. If these tapes were written decades ago when 800 BPI was reasonably current, and if the data is important, you might want to hand them straight to a recovery service rather than risking the data by further playing around. Tony H. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
