Strange HP dat behaviour

[M]

Bjorn,

It sounds like there may be problem with the DDS detect switches, these are
located just inside the drive . You can see them if you open the flap. They
detect the presence and type of tape by finding the dents in the underside
of the tape cartridge. That's how the drive knows if it's DDS2 or DDS3 etc.
If it's working ok on DDS2 then really the only difference is the way it's
detecting the tape type. I would suggest that you carefully inspect and test
each one of the switch blocks, one is located at each side of the drive. I
have know these be bent or damaged. You could even test them with a
multimeter, but you'll need to disassemble the drive (usual warnings about
delicate parts and warranties etc). If the switches are ok there may be an
electronic problem in which instance it's looking more serious....

Hope that helps....

M


"B" <a@b.com> wrote in message news:PIUJa.17285$dP1.32585@newsc.telia.net... Hello I hope the SCSI group don't mind that it's not that much SCSI related but I guess there are many DAT users here :-) And now on to my problem. I have a HP DDS3 (12/24Gb) tape device. The mechanism is a C1537A. Lately it won't accept DDS3 tapes. DDS2 tapes are still working fine. There is a sound when accessing the DDS3 tape, which is ok according to HP's support pages. I'm just not sure it's supposed to repeat 10 times before ejecting the tape and turning on the 'clean' led. There is no such sound with DDS2 tape. The device passes all test in HP tape tools when using DDS2 tape. When using DDS3 tape, the write/read and compression test fails. From what I can read in the result log, the 'rewind command failed'. I'm wondering if someone has experienced the same problem as I, and if there's something to do about it. I should add that I've done 'clean five times in a row' with a brand new cleaning tape and the tests where conducted with a brand new DDS3 tape. The drive is more than three years old according to manufacture date, and I think i'ts an OEM device so I don't really think there's three years of warranty anyway. regards Bjorn

[lcoe]

In comp.sys.hp.misc M <martyns20@hotmail.com> wrote: Bjorn,
It sounds like there may be problem with the DDS detect switches, these are located just inside the drive . You can see them if you open the flap. They detect the presence and type of tape by finding the dents in the underside of the tape cartridge. That's how the drive knows if it's DDS2 or DDS3 etc. If it's working ok on DDS2 then really the only difference is the way it's detecting the tape type. I would suggest that you carefully inspect and test each one of the switch blocks, one is located at each side of the drive. I have know these be bent or damaged. You could even test them with a multimeter, but you'll need to disassemble the drive (usual warnings about delicate parts and warranties etc). If the switches are ok there may be an electronic problem in which instance it's looking more serious.... Hope that helps.... > M

as long as he's opened it up, clean the heads manually. i would bet that
this will "fix" it. afaik, clogged heads are the major reason for drive
"failure". of course they could be just wearing out, you would lose
the highest density first. good luck, --Loren

"B" <a@b.com> wrote in message news:PIUJa.17285$dP1.32585@newsc.telia.net... Hello I hope the SCSI group don't mind that it's not that much SCSI related but I guess there are many DAT users here :-) And now on to my problem. I have a HP DDS3 (12/24Gb) tape device. The mechanism is a C1537A. Lately it won't accept DDS3 tapes. DDS2 tapes are still working fine. There is a sound when accessing the DDS3 tape, which is ok according to HP's support pages. I'm just not sure it's supposed to repeat 10 times before ejecting the tape and turning on the 'clean' led. There is no such sound with DDS2 tape. The device passes all test in HP tape tools when using DDS2 tape. When using DDS3 tape, the write/read and compression test fails. From what I can read in the result log, the 'rewind command failed'. I'm wondering if someone has experienced the same problem as I, and if there's something to do about it. I should add that I've done 'clean five times in a row' with a brand new cleaning tape and the tests where conducted with a brand new DDS3 tape. The drive is more than three years old according to manufacture date, and I think i'ts an OEM device so I don't really think there's three years of warranty anyway. regards Bjorn

[Bjorn]

"lcoe" <lcoe@c1932201-a.attbi.com> skrev i meddelandet
news:Q5YKa.33215$Bg.17362@rwcrnsc54... In comp.sys.hp.misc M <martyns20@hotmail.com> wrote: Bjorn, It sounds like there may be problem with the DDS detect switches, these
are located just inside the drive . You can see them if you open the flap.
They detect the presence and type of tape by finding the dents in the
underside of the tape cartridge. That's how the drive knows if it's DDS2 or DDS3
etc. If it's working ok on DDS2 then really the only difference is the way
it's detecting the tape type. I would suggest that you carefully inspect and
test each one of the switch blocks, one is located at each side of the drive.
I have know these be bent or damaged. You could even test them with a multimeter, but you'll need to disassemble the drive (usual warnings
about delicate parts and warranties etc). If the switches are ok there may be
an electronic problem in which instance it's looking more serious.... Hope that helps.... > M as long as he's opened it up, clean the heads manually. i would bet that this will "fix" it. afaik, clogged heads are the major reason for drive "failure". of course they could be just wearing out, you would lose the highest density first. good luck, --Loren
Thank you for your suggestions.
I have checked the switches, mechanically, and they seemed ok. The
pins are straight. One of the pins is shorter than the other, the leftmost
on the right side (when looking into the drive).
I haven't the possibility to check them electrically, maybe a friend of
mine can do that.
What kind manuall cleaning are we talking about? Alcohol on a cloth
or something? Isn't that a risky business?

/Bjorn
"B" <a@b.com> wrote in message
news:PIUJa.17285$dP1.32585@newsc.telia.net... Hello I hope the SCSI group don't mind that it's not that much SCSI related but I guess there are many DAT users here :-) And now on to my problem. I have a HP DDS3 (12/24Gb) tape device. The mechanism is a C1537A. Lately it won't accept DDS3 tapes. DDS2 tapes are still working fine. There is a sound when accessing the DDS3 tape, which is ok according to HP's support pages. I'm just not sure it's supposed to repeat 10 times before ejecting the tape and turning on the 'clean' led. There is no such sound with DDS2 tape. The device passes all test in HP tape tools when using DDS2 tape. When using DDS3 tape, the write/read and compression test fails. From what I can read in the result log, the 'rewind command failed'. I'm wondering if someone has experienced the same problem as I, and if there's something to do about it. I should add that I've done 'clean five times in a row' with a brand new cleaning tape and the tests where conducted with a brand new DDS3 tape. The drive is more than three years old according to manufacture date, and I think i'ts an OEM device so I don't really think there's three years of warranty anyway. regards Bjorn