Old Tapes

[Paul MR]

From the back of the closet I recently unearthed six tapes (Travan 3)
that I used to use for back up three computers ago. I want to give them
away to whoever might still use them (they cost over $30 each). But I
know they contain confidential information like my old tax returns. Any
suggestions about how to clean them before offering them to strangers?
If I wind up having to trash them, is burning them the safest way to
destroy the data? Apologies if this is the wrong group to ask; could
you redirect me please.
Paul in San Francisco

 

[Shenan Stanley]

From the back of the closet I recently unearthed six tapes (Travan 3) that
I used to use for back up three computers ago. I want to give them away
to whoever might still use them (they cost over $30 each). But I know
they contain confidential information like my old tax returns. Any
suggestions about how to clean them before offering them to strangers? If
I wind up having to trash them, is burning them the safest way to destroy
the data? Apologies if this is the wrong group to ask; could you redirect
me please.

Open them, pull the tape, cut in into strips...
You can burn them - but the fumes are pretty toxic.

If someone you know is still USING those tapes - buy them a DVD burner
instead.
More space, longer life, smaller profile...

 

[Vanguard]

From the back of the closet I recently unearthed six tapes (Travan 3)
that I used to use for back up three computers ago. I want to give
them away to whoever might still use them (they cost over $30 each).
But I know they contain confidential information like my old tax
returns. Any suggestions about how to clean them before offering them
to strangers? If I wind up having to trash them, is burning them the
safest way to destroy the data? Apologies if this is the wrong group
to ask; could you redirect me please.
Paul in San Francisco

Give them to whom? You won't find anyone that wants them. Even if they
did have a tape drive that could use those tapes, why would they trust
media which is unknown for the number of uses, how it was cared for
(which doesn't sound like it was cared for well), or wonder how much the
tape stretched?

To destroy, just take the tape out (by dismantling the case or unlatch
the locking mechanism to pull out) and stretch it. If it is stretched,
only very special equipment could read it. Stretching it might also
result in the magnetic material peeling off the tape.

 

[GHalleck]

From the back of the closet I recently unearthed six tapes (Travan 3)
that I used to use for back up three computers ago. I want to give them
away to whoever might still use them (they cost over $30 each). But I
know they contain confidential information like my old tax returns. Any
suggestions about how to clean them before offering them to strangers?
If I wind up having to trash them, is burning them the safest way to
destroy the data? Apologies if this is the wrong group to ask; could
you redirect me please.
Paul in San Francisco

A bulk eraser for 2" magnetic audio tape or videotape should do fine at
erasing these data tapes. One might want to look in the Yellow Pages for
an older recording studio or video studio that would still have one.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

From the back of the closet I recently unearthed six tapes (Travan 3)
that I used to use for back up three computers ago. I want to give them
away to whoever might still use them (they cost over $30 each).

It's highly unlikely that you would find anyone who might want them.
They are dinosaurs.

But I
know they contain confidential information like my old tax returns. Any
suggestions about how to clean them before offering them to strangers?
If I wind up having to trash them, is burning them the safest way to
destroy the data?

Simply throwing them away is probably safe enough. Anyone who happened
to rout through your garbage and might find them would be highly
unlikely to go looking for a dinosaur of a tape drive so he could read
them in the *hope* that he might find something of interest there.

But if you want to destroy them, go right ahead. Burning them is way
overkill, Just breaking the cartridges would make them unreadable. If
you want to do more, unspool and crinkle the tape or cut it with
scissors.

 

[Paul MR]

A bulk eraser for 2" magnetic audio tape or videotape should do fine at
erasing these data tapes. One might want to look in the Yellow Pages for
an older recording studio or video studio that would still have one.

Thank you, GHalleck, for a helpful answer without attitude.
Paul in San Francisco

 

[Shenan Stanley]

From the back of the closet I recently unearthed six tapes
(Travan 3) that I used to use for back up three computers ago. I
want to give them away to whoever might still use them (they cost
over $30 each). But I know they contain confidential information
like my old tax returns. Any suggestions about how to clean them
before offering them to strangers? If I wind up having to trash
them, is burning them the safest way to destroy the data? Apologies if
this is the wrong group to ask; could you redirect
me please. Paul in San Francisco

A bulk eraser for 2" magnetic audio tape or videotape should do
fine at erasing these data tapes. One might want to look in the
Yellow Pages for an older recording studio or video studio that
would still have one.

Thank you, GHalleck, for a helpful answer without attitude.
Paul in San Francisco

I did not realize any of the other responses had any sort of 'attitude' in
them.

My response:

Open them, pull the tape, cut in into strips...
You can burn them - but the fumes are pretty toxic.

If someone you know is still USING those tapes - buy them a DVD
burner instead. More space, longer life, smaller profile...

Gave you a solution and pointed out the fact that anyone still using those
tapes for backup - given their capacity - it would be better to suggest to
them to start using something else that is more reliable, faster, less
expensive with a good life left.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Thank you, GHalleck, for a helpful answer without attitude.

And just HOW likely are you to follow that advice, given all the other
advice you're received that included an "attitude"?

NONE.

My bet is you trash the tapes in the easiest way possible and move on.

 

[Plato]

From the back of the closet I recently unearthed six tapes (Travan 3)
that I used to use for back up three computers ago. I want to give them
away to whoever might still use them (they cost over $30 each). But I

Toss them in the trash.

 

[Vanguard]

I did not realize any of the other responses had any sort of
'attitude' in them.

They don't, but now they will. The "solution" he liked is to go out
and buy a bulk tape eraser. Guess he doesn't have a screwdriver or
thinks a bulk eraser is cheaper than a screwdriver to dismantle the
cartridge to then just stretch the tape or cut up with scissors (maybe
he doesn't have scissors, too). Besides, the bulk tape eraser he buys
from Radio Shack is not an industrial-grade unit. I suppose when he
wants to get physically destroy those old vacuum tubes that he'll use
a torch to melt them instead of using a hammer and protective eyewear.
Guess he likes more costly solutions. Well, if it makes him fell
better. It's doubtful that any tapes he had sitting in a closet for
years is of value to anyone except him. He highly overrates the value
of his data and of his antiquated gear. Best bet is to check on when
the computer show is scheduled at the state fair grounds. There is
lots of old junk there. He should go visit 24hoursupport.helpdesk or
NANAE if he wants to see what attitude really is.