[comp.sys.dec] Dismounting/Deallocating a mounted device with no process

bolson@milton.u.washington.edu (Ed Bolson) (04/24/91)

In my experiments with a WangDAT 1300 tape drive on my VAXStation 3100, I
often seem to get into a status where the operating system thinks the
tape is busy, and it isn't.  At this point, sometimes I can abort the
running image and DISMOUNT the drive.  Sometimes I can't.  Sometimes I
end up deleting the process (don't ask why - I get desperate).

In any case, the drive is then unusable.  I have a program called 
DEALLOCDEVICE which will perform a DEALLOCATE request in kernel mode
ast of the owner process.  Needless to say, I tried this several times
first.

A reboot is the normal fix, but I have seen methods presented in these
groups for resetting bits using ANALYZE/SYSTEM and various patching utilities.
Usually, my application of these causes a system reboot anyway :-), but
I am game to try.

Can anyone send me a procedure that might work - either a program or 
steps using any available tools?  I am tired of hitting this problem and
not really knowing a solution.


Ed Bolson
University of Washington  Cardiovascular Research               (206)543-4535
bolson@u.washington.edu (preferred)
bolson@max.bitnet                bolson@milton.u.washington.edu (if you must)
-- 
Ed Bolson
University of Washington  Cardiovascular Research               (206)543-4535
bolson@u.washington.edu (preferred)
bolson@max.bitnet                bolson@milton.u.washington.edu (if you must)