[Info-vax] DAT drive misreads write protect tab

[urbancamo]

On Tuesday, 9 October 2012 22:50:38 UTC+1, Rich Jordan  wrote:
> I'm reluctant to bring this up so soon after the most recent DDS bash
> 
> session here but I'm hoping someone has seen this particular issue
> 
> before and has a suggestion for an in-situ correction.
> 
> 
> 
> TLZ10 tape drive (I believe this is a Sony OEM) is randomly reading a
> 
> loaded tape as being write protected when it is not.  If the tape is
> 
> write protected it always comes up so, but write enabled has about a
> 
> 30% chance of being seen as write protected.
> 
> 
> 
> The brand of cartridge (HP, Imation, or Sony), new or used, makes no
> 
> diff.
> 
> 
> 
> The earlier DAT drives I disassembled (for fun and pieces parts for
> 
> friends' art projects) had a spring mounted physical sensor to
> 
> determine if the tab was visible or not; anyone know if a TLZ10 still
> 
> is or is it optical?
> 
> 
> 
> This is a home hobby site with zero budget and I'm just trying to help
> 
> them out.  Thanks for any info.  Suggestions to replace hardware would
> 
> not be helpful at the moment (though down the road they hope to
> 
> inherit a DLT IV drive and tapes).  They just need to keep their
> 
> backups going for now.

Hi Rich,

Sorry I don't really have an answer. I think you're probably going to have to get down to component level diagnostics if the issue isn't mechanical. 

I have a TLZ06 which has been very reliable over the years. As I posted in the TK50 discussion I've never had any issues with DAT reliablity but then I think it primarily concerns media wear which hasn't been a factor in my pattern of usage.

What standard in a TLZ10 out of interest? Is that DDS2 or DDS3?

Good luck with the drive.