Probably the library has it assigned a category other than insert or
scratch.
Use your mtlib command to query the tape...
mtlib -l/dev/lmcp#   -qV  -VC01861    (where # is the proper lmcp1 or lmcp2
etc... that your library is as found via aix command lsdev -Cctape)

Look for the category data... it is, I'm sure, the hex value for a PRIVATE
volume.

If you know it is honestly scratch you can use the mtlib command to adjust
the category

mtlib -l/cev/lmcp#  -C  -s_____    -tFF00  -VC01861       use the  "s"ource
category as found when you query the volume, use the "t"arget category of
"FF00" which is "Insert"




Dwight E. Cook
Systems Management Integration Professional, Advanced
Integrated Storage Management
TSM Administration
(405) 253-4397
(877) 625-4186
T/L 349-4361