ilan343@violet.berkeley.edu (07/06/90)
I having problems with the tape drive in a 3B2/400, actually the drive
in unusable.
Typical symptoms:
Formatting a tape gives the message
ctcfmt: format failed for /dev/rsA/ctape1 errno=5
Getting info on a supposedly OK backup tape gives me
ctcinfo: cannot open /dev/rsA/ctape1 error=215
I am running SysV 3.0, and already tried reinstalling the Cartrige Tape
Utilities.
Can any kind soul give me a hint if this hardware or software related?
Is there an easy fix I could try ?
Thank for you help,
Geraldo Veigagentry@kcdev.UUCP (Art Gentry) (07/08/90)
In article <1990Jul5.195559.6587@agate.berkeley.edu> ilan343@violet.berkeley.edu writes: >I having problems with the tape drive in a 3B2/400, actually the drive >in unusable. > > [symptoms description deleted for brevity] > >Can any kind soul give me a hint if this hardware or software related? >Is there an easy fix I could try ? > What the error is telling you is the driver cannot "open" the drive. This is typically caused by one of the following: 1) tape is write protected 2) tape is defective 3) kernel or device file is pointing to the wrone major/minor device 4) tape drive is defective If when you attempt to write to or read from the tape, the access light comes on, then forget #3; look for a protected tape or defective unit. Art -- | R. Arthur Gentry AT&T Communications Kansas City, MO 64106 | | Email: gentry@kcdev.uucp ATTMail: attmail!kc4rtm!gentry | | The UNIX BBS: 816-221-0475 The Bedroom BBS: 816-637-4183 | | $include {std_disclaimer.h} "I will make a guess" - Spock - STIV |
dsmith@csusac.csus.edu (Dick Smith) (07/08/90)
I would like to add to the suggestions from Art Gentry. >In article <1990Jul5.195559.6587@agate.berkeley.edu> ilan343@violet.berkeley.edu writes: >>I having problems with the tape drive in a 3B2/400, actually the drive >>in unusable. >> >> [symptoms description deleted for brevity] >> >>Can any kind soul give me a hint if this hardware or software related? >>Is there an easy fix I could try ? >> >What the error is telling you is the driver cannot "open" the drive. >This is typically caused by one of the following: > >1) tape is write protected >2) tape is defective >3) kernel or device file is pointing to the wrone major/minor device >4) tape drive is defective > >If when you attempt to write to or read from the tape, the access light >comes on, then forget #3; look for a protected tape or defective unit. > >Art I had the same error messages and after trying several tapes I looked at the heads and descovered them to be covered with oxide. After cleaning everything worked perfectly. dick -- __ ___ UUCP : {ucdavis!}csusac!dsmith | \ (___ Internet : dsmith@csus.edu |__/ ____) USnail : Cal State Univ, 6000 J St, Sacramento, CA 95819-2694