28 Nov
2006
28 Nov
'06
12:32 p.m.
I'm guessing that this is a problem which, if not
affecting others
yet, will soon start affecting others who are relying upon such drives
for backing up and restoring critical data.
Decomposing rubber components has been a problem for digital tape transports
for at least a decade or more now. I know of no vendor who supplies
replacements for the dozens of different QIC transports, for example.
Crisis Computer used to fix HP transports, but they do not sell parts, only
expensive refurbed complete units.
This should be a business opportunity for someone, but I don't know of
anyone who is selling replacement rubber parts for digital transports.
Anyone who has historically significant data on tape should get it OFF of
that media as quickly as possible and onto something that is more easy to
migrate in the future.