Difference between ADR50i and SC50?

[JHGuy]

I need some help.

I'm in need of an onstream drive to recover some data that's been deleted. When I went to recover the data my drive messed up. It is unusable/broken. I'm needing to buy a replacement drive to try and recover the data. My broken drive shows model ADR50i on the bottom of the drive and Model S501 on the inside flap (it is SCSI). Most of the drives on Ebay, etc. are listed as SC50. From the pictures they look the same.

What is the difference? I'm wanting to buy one that I can just plug into the existing cables, etc. and go with it.

Will a SC50 work for what I need?

 

[gwootton]

The S501 is the ADR50i drive. The difference between the ADR50i and the SC50 is that the ADR50 uses hardware compression, whereas SC50 uses software compression. Unfortunately, tapes backed up using an ADR series model cannot be restored from an SC series model. You would need an ADR50i or ADR50e.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[DITsupport]

Greg,
I have a client that is in litigation and he needs to find out if our old (ADR50i recorded) tapes have data on them. Our drive broke quite some time ago and I purchased an SC50 to recover the data (since there are no ADR50i drives on ebay). I have been unsuccessful since the old drive was an ADR50i. I need to try to find out if the data in question is on the tapes, but cannot find anyone who can help. Do you know of anyone willing to allow us to temporarily use of a drive or fix our old drive? I cannot send the tapes out to a recovery service, due to security reasons. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Sincerely,
Nate

 

[gwootton]

DITsupport,
Unfortunately, I don't even have a drive that you could use, but I can tell you that you are going to need an ADR50 drive to get the information off of it. I can also recommend a good data recovery place, (

http://www.computer-conversions.com).

While you can't send it off, maybe they have a drive you could use? Other than that, I don't know of anywhere that can repair that drive.
Thanks,
Greg

 

[DITsupport]

Thank you so much for your assistance. I will try to contact Computer Conversions to see if they can help.

 

[JHGuy]

Just wanted to let you know. Thanks for the advice gwootton.

To DITSupport, I was in the same situation as yourself. After a couple of weeks I did find a ADR50i on EBay and was able to purchase it for $50 bucks. (A steal)

 

[DITsupport]

JHGuy,
Is there any possible way I could arrange to either buy the drive off of you, rent it, or borrow it to see if our tapes have the data we need on them (if you would let us borrow it, you would be my best friend forever!!!!)? I know it is a lot to ask, but I am becoming desperate and the trial date is lingering near for our client. I have no interest in keeping the drive and would be more than willing to work out something with you, but if you don't want to, I understand (It is a huge favor to ask).

If you would be interested, I would like to speak offline.

 

[JHGuy]

DITSupport

Here's my email: JasonH@SoutheasternConst.com

 

[kaon]

Hi there

Does anyone know if it's possible to read 50Gb tapes originally written using the SC50 drive and Echo 1Safe (3.7) with software compression, by now using ADR50 drive with the same software?

I ask as my original SC50 drive no longer recognises that is has a tape in it, the replacement SC50 I found on ebay has chewed 2 of my tapes, and I now have a ADR50 with SCSI 68pin adapter to try and salvage the data on the final cartridge. Basically I dont want to blow my last chance! :O

Any advice would be deeply appreciated.

With thanks and best wishes

 

[gwootton]

kaon, no it isn't. The ADR50 and SC50 use different read and write mechanisms on the tape, so you cannot go from one to another without reformatting the tape using a low level format utility.
Sorry,
Greg