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

[John E. Malmberg]

Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> In article <sVxum.63358$la3.21642 at attbi_s22>,
> 	"John E. Malmberg" <wb8tyw at qsl.network> writes:
<Snip>
> If it has lights flashing you should not be able to open the door.  If
> you can, I concur with the above because it is seriously broken.
> 
> Of course, when lights are flashing it is not usually getting a tape
> in that is the problem, it is getting a tape out!!  :-)

On most of the VAX series, the TK70 was surrounded by a soft plastic 
bezel.  I learned early on where to stick a finger in to pull the 
solenoid was used to unlock the door.  Once you did that, the cartridge
was easy to remove.

<snip>
>> 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.
> 
> I would have expected that direction to work and even be able to
> re-format the tape.  It is the other direction I wold have expected
> to do damage.

TK50 and TK70 tapes can be read on many DLT models.  Not all models are 
specified to be able to read them.

DLT tapes have a extra bit of plastic on them that is supposed to make 
them not fit in in a TK50 or TK70 drive.

The Field service person was not amused about removing the DLT cleaner 
tape from the TK70 drive.

-John
wb8tyw at qsl.network
Personal Opinion Only