DLT Tape drive needs cleaning

[qmann]

Hi everyone..
I have a DLT backup tapedrive and am using DLTtape IV tapes and have a couple of cleaning tapes. The light automatically comes on when the DLT unit needs cleaning. This is a new drive and was told that all i have to do is insert a tape and it will clean the drive. It seems to load fine and i believe it is cleaning it but once to process is finished the cleaning light is still on. Should this light now stop blinking or do i manually have to shut it off. I am using AutoExec Backup 9.0. Any comments would be great.

 

[SQLBill]

I don't use that type of drive. I believe the light should go out. But there is one other thing you need to do...in Backup Exec, go to Devices tab. Right click on your tape drive, there should be a Cleaning tab. Go to that and reset the statistics. On single tape drives, this has to be done manually - autoloaders do it automatically.

That 'might' reset the light, but regardless of whether it does or not, you still need to reset the cleaning stats manually.

-SQLBill

 

[Lou0686]

Hi,

I have worked with many of these drives. The light goes out automatically once it has been cleaned.

It's possible that you have a faulty drive. I just swapped one out for almost the same reason. I would write errors, the light would flash, I would clean it and the same symtom would reappear. Replacing the drive solved the problem.

Lou

 

[SQLBill]

Also, are the cleaning tapes old? Cleaning tapes can only be used for a limited amount of cleanings.

Another issue could be damaged heads on the tape drive. If they are badly scratched the tape drive might think they need to be cleaned.

-SQLBill

 

[Rols]

Yes the cleaning light should definatley go out after a the tape drive has been cleaned.

I would look at getting the drive replaced.

Cheers

 

[qmann]

the cleaning light does not go out. i will look into replaceing the drive.

Q

 

[comtec17]

I have had to run the cleaning tape through these drives a few times before the light goes off. This just means that the heads are very dirty and your cleaning tape is probably been used to many times.

 

[qmann]

This is the first time the cleaning light came on.. (very new drive), and the cleaning tapes are brand new.. actually got a second one thinking that maybe the cleaning tape was faulty.

 

[dohc97]

What kind of cleaning tapes are you using? I had this same problem a couple of weeks ago. I found out that I was using a cleaning tape that is not compatible with my tape drive.

 

[qmann]

that was it.. i had to use benchmark cleaning tapes.. the other cleaning tapes would not work.

Q