Now tape drive was Re: Cranking up a HP 7914.

From: Joe <rigdonj_at_cfl.rr.com>
Date: Fri Apr 18 14:32:00 2003

At 04:52 PM 4/17/03 -0700, you wrote:
>check out how to clean the ways. I am assuming that this is a single platter type
>top or front load with a 2.5 5 or 10 meg capacity.

  No this is a fixed disk with ~132 Mb capacity and a built in tape drive.

>
>If you can get the schematics, or do some tracing, one thing that most of these will do is
>spin up w/o moving the heads. You can get this to happen by either physically pulling
>a driver connector, or setting a switch to be sure the heads don't get energized.

   That's a good idea. I'd been thinking of doing something like that.

>
>I would get the drive to be able to spin up first w/o head load and be sure that it
>is happy (finding a test manual would help a whole lot here).
>
>Then be sure you get the media you plan to use cleaned. If you have a fixed disk,
>you probably have a bigger problem than if you have removable, since you can
>get in and clean the cartridge media and inspect it much easier than a fixed platter
>in a drive.
>
>Use lint free cleaning swabs and isopropyl alcohol for cleaning. I doubt there
>are any media houses left in existance, but if there are, you could send the media
>to them for a clean job and inspection.

   I wish! I don't have the couple of grand that they'd want to do a job like that. I'm on my own here.


>
>Clean the heads off and inspect them as well before any power up.
>
>Then all you need is luck and a quick hand on the power if you crash. these
>drives can survive a crash with some luck if you are quick enough and don't fry
>the head. Of course the media will be lost, but that is better than the whole
>unit.

     I don't care about the media, or the drive either for that matter. I'd like to get it fired up ONE time just long enough to copy the OS to newer HP-IB drive.

    Anybody know if these use the same tapes as the HP 9144/7942/7946? Also if the 9144/7942/7946s can read the 7914 tapes? The 7914 (and the 7942/7946) has the ability to copy directly from the hard drive to the tape drive without being connected to a computer. (The 9144 is a stand alone tape drive. The 7914/7942 and 7946 are all combination tape drives and hard drives.) I thought it might be better to make a backup tape directly on the 7914 rather than spending what be left of the 7914's limited life trying to get to boot on the 1000 and figuring out the passwords, etc and the commands to copy the drive contents to another drive.

    Joe
Received on Fri Apr 18 2003 - 14:32:00 BST