sdy@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ugly Bag of Mostly Water) (07/29/89)
My Setup:
Mac 512e (upgrade kit), Sophisticated Circuits 2Meg Maximillion and SCSI
port, System Software 6.02, about 8-12 inits all of were running when I
formatted the first 3 tapes about 4 months ago.
Well after finally getting my DiskFit 1.5 upgrade, and a box of 5 new
unformatted DC2000 tapes (from TechAlliance's retail store closeout), I thought
I was in fat city for backups. Installed the new ULDataStream 2.02 and started
an incremental backup to the 2 tapes I already had. And at the end of the
second tape (I have a 60Mb drive) I go a message that said a "Hardware
malfunction has occurred" but the error log claims that the backup completed
successfully.
So then I tried to format a new tape. After answering the appropriate questions
it starts to format, then after 40 minutes (or so) I get a "media is bad"
message. Then I tried another new tape and after 40 minutes I get another
hardware malfunction message. Then whenever I put either of the tapes in I get
the same message (respectively) that I recieved when formatting and I notice
that the red access light is blinking when the HW malfunction message appears.
Check the hypertape manual and notice that the drive should not be on the left
side, move it to the right and now both tapes have bad media messages. Removing
all of my init's except suitcase 1.2.4, Quickeys datadesk init, multidisk,
XPram, CPSdelete, and HFS Navigator, made no difference.
I reinstall the hypertape init and try both tapes, both claim to be unreadable,
one wants to be initialized, when I click on initialize it immediately returns
with a "Initialization failed" message not even the slightest tape access
occurs. The other wants to be formatted and after 40 minutes it says there were
122 bad blocks and to enter the name. Give it a name and immediately the
"Initialization failed" message appears. Now both give the same symptoms and
messages.
Now I try another new tape in case the first 2 were damaged and 40 minutes
later (after it's been formatting the tape) it claims the format was complete
with "?" bad blocks and again the initialization fails.
Finally, try the only formatted tape I have left (previously formatted with the
hypertape init when I made my original backups) it's now unreadable and trys to
format it, 45 minutes later (or so, I wasn't watching) it completes and I have
a little tape icon just like before.
So try the 4th (of 5) new tapes and again get a failed intitialization.
Try the tapes with ULDataStream and only get bad media messages. But no more HW
malfunction messages on any of the tapes since the drive has moved to the right
side.
I've been trying to get a hold of GCC for a local service rep to check out my
drive but the operator says their line is being checked for problems and to
call back later. I may try and call 3M's 800 number (on the tape) for help.
I throw my drive on the mercy of the net, does anyone have answers for any of
the following?
1. What does it mean when the access light just sits there blinking on the
HyperTape ?
2. What kind of Hardware malfunction was the ULDataStream init trying to
tell me about?
3. What criteria does ULDataStream use to determine that the media is bad?
4. Is it possible that all 4 tapes were bad? (I believe that they are
formatted but uninitialized).
5. Why won't the HyperTape init initialize?
6. What's so special about a previously formatted tape?
--
Steven D. Yee >>> my employer does not share my opinions <<<
uw-beaver!ssc-vax!ssc-bee!sdy >>> (that's because I'm always right! ;-) <<<
I don't get even ... I get ahead.gus@frame.UUCP (Gus Fernandez) (07/30/89)
You seem to indeed be having hardware problems. The red blinking light is a function of the drive. You will probably see it even if you insert a tape with the Mac turned off. I doubt that all of your tapes are bad, but anything is possible. Make sure that you bough 205 foot tapes. (There are 300 foot tapes out there which your drive probably doesn't support.) If I could see the drive and run it through some of my own tests, I could probably pinpoint the problem, but I doubt that there is much more information which I can give you over the net. Usual disclaimer: These comments are my own and not of my employer.