[Info-vax] MicroVAX/VMS newbie, couple of questions

[John E. Malmberg]

Tone007 wrote:
>  > ISTR that all lights flashing on a DLT drive means that there is a
>> hardware problem.  I think it has something to do with a broken or
>> misconfigured "leader" that's supposed to hook up with the tape in your
>> cartridge.
> 
> Well, maybe it's just angry because it doesn't have a tape.  I grabbed
> a blank on eBay, I'll see if the drive wants to do anything with it
> when it comes.  If not, I guess I'll be sticking with 5.4!

I would not put a tape in a TK or DLT drive that has lights flashing if 
it allows it.  It will probably eat it.

If you are lucky, just the internal leader has come loose and someone 
will know how to put it back on.

When I had systems with those type of drives, Field service would 
replace the leaders once a year as a preventive maintenance.

The TK70 requires a CompacTape II.  And if it is used, it needs to have 
been formatted in a TK70 drive, not a TK50, or you will need to be bulk 
degauss the tape, which will need a very strong degaussing tool.

The TK50 and TK70s are the pre-DLT models.

It is possible to insert a DLT tape in a TK70 drive if you push hard 
enough.  If you are careful, it is even possible to remove the tape 
afterward, but I do not remember if the tape or drive survived it.

-John
wb8tyw at qsl.network
Personal Opinion Only.