[comp.sys.dec] TK50/TK70 problems

dls@lanl.gov (Dale L Schrage) (07/24/90)

We run a microVAX-II which has recently been upgraded to a 
microVAX-III. Someone recently gave me a tape to read and I
put it into the TK50 drive and did the usual "allocate, mount, etc"
commands. The system returned with a "please mount" message.
After fooling around for a while, I removed the tape, "de-allocated"
the drive, etc. Following that the drive would not read any tapes
of any sort. I called DEC and they did some trouble shooting and
replaced the drive. Turns out that the tape that I was trying to
read was a TK70. Later, someone else made the same mistake and
the tape drive got hung again.
This time I reset the system (spun down disks, reset power, etc)
and the hung tape drive went back to normal and would
read TK50's again.