reuse of partially expired physical tape volumes reuse is attained in a longitudinal tape data storage drive , wherein data is stored as a sequence of serpentine wraps , a wrap comprising a first linear path traced on a longitudinal tape ; and another linear path , laterally spaced from the first linear path , traced on the longitudinal tape ; the linear paths extending from one end of the longitudinal tape to the opposite end and arranged in opposite directions . one embodiment of a method comprises identifying expired portions of stored data on the longitudinal tape ; determining whether data of a complete linear path of the longitudinal tape has been expired ; and allowing reuse of any determined complete linear path for storage of data .