18 Jan
2022
18 Jan
'22
11:34 a.m.
On Jan 18, 2022, at 8:58 AM, Chris Zach via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
wrote:
I?m also not using MFM or ESDI drives. I converted my Q-Bus HW to SCSI 20+ years ago.
When I get it back up and running, I plan to convert it to SCSI2SD. OTOH, I am trying,
for some insane reason to get a DSSI system going. I started converting my SCSI based DEC
HW to SCSI2SD last summer.
Having said that, that?s good news on the TK50?s and TK70?s, I have a couple boxes in my
office (so somewhat nicely stored) that I need to read, in my nonexistent free time. My
plan has been to buy a refurbished SBB that will read them. I?m more likely to trust the
TK50 in my PDP-11 than the 4mm DAT.
I?ve read 30 year old 9-track tapes on production hardware, and I?ve read very old TK50?s
(as well as other DLT-style tapes). Things like QIC, 8mm, and 4mm, I try my best to avoid
on production systems.
Zane
As someone that has worked with computer tapes
for nearly 40 years, I have to question the sanity of this. These
tapes are *HOW*
old? What was their intended lifespan? While we all like to keep our hardware as
original as possible, does it really make sense to try to run systems in this day and age
with QIC tapes?
Well, you gotta use something to back up those ESDI drives.
I'm finding the TK50's and TK70's to be pretty good, the big massive problem
with them is those two pulleys having the grease dried up. Since one of them runs the tape
tachometer they need to spin freely and smoothly.
Count the turns on the top bolt as you remove it, take off the pulleys, lubricate or
replace the bearings, reassemble, good for another 20 years or so.
QIC.... Yeah that's not going to work well. Times change.