7 Jul
2005
7 Jul
'05
12:43 p.m.
I agreee but the problem is that a lot of us would
like to recover the
original HP software from the tapes since a lot of it virtually never
Agreed. Of course the belt failing is really a media issue, and is not
strictly the same problem as being able to make a copy of the tape.
appeared on anything but the tapes. In addition, the
programs on tape could
be "protected" and could not be copied. I know companies that run their
entire operation off of such commercailly produced protected tapes and are
willing to pay ANYTHING to keep them working since a failed tape will put
them out of business.
Since the hardware details of the 9825, etc, tape drive and controller
are known, it should be not too hard to link the bus interface side of
that controller to another computer and read the tape at the bit level
(rememebr the controller is a very simple device that does little to the
bits coming off the tape). At which point it should be possible to copy
_anything_.
Of course this depends on the tape being still readable...
-tony