Question : Problem: How do I Erase, Format & Reuse Tapes on Seagate Tape Drive

My client has an old Dell workstation running Win 2000. He backs up his important data to a Seagate Tape Drive (don't have the exact model # on me now) each night using the Retrospect Backup Software that came w/ the tape drive.

I recently created a new backup script using Retrospect. However, when I try to run it, the program refuses to use the tape inside the drive b/c it is already part of another backup set, and it wants me to put in a brand new tape.

How do I go about taking one of the old backup tapes and reformatting it so that I can use it like a new blank tape? I didn't see any obvious way to do this in Retrospect? And I can't format it in Windows Explorer b/c it doesn't see the tape drive as an available volume.

Is there a utility I can download that will allow me to do this?

Answer : Problem: How do I Erase, Format & Reuse Tapes on Seagate Tape Drive

As per itprotocall's answer on another post, this is easy way to do this in Retrospect.

erase the tape from within Retrospect before using it in a backup script

Select Configure and then Devices.
It will then display all media types, ie CD, Tape, etc.
Select the Tape media.
Click Erase. DO NOT NAME THE TAPE.
Follow default screens and click OK both times.