Travan tape cartridge problem

[Gersen]

howdy all,

I recently set up the first Travan tape drive I've ever used. When putting a tape into the drive, sometimes it rewinds completely off the reel, so no tape shows under the protective flap. At this point the tape is useless, I believe.

Does anyone know why this happens, and how I can prevent it? And can I repair the tapes that have unwound?? It has happened to at least 4 tapes this week, and I'm getting reluctant to feed it any more.

Respond here or to Gersen@att.net and thanks in advance for any info you can provide.

Gersen

 

[edfair]

A sensor is failing. Rewind should continue until the BOT flag, but it has been so long since I've used Travan that I can't remember where it is in relation to the drive roller. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[BobPD]

We use Travan systems on all of our servers and occasionally a tape despools like you have described. Don't try to repair them. Travan has a program to fix the tapes, your cost is the postage. Call their customer support for details: Customer Support at 888.466.3456.

 

[ANFPS26]

My experience with older tape drives is that the lamp for the Beginning Of Tape(BOT) marker burns out. The Travan drive may use a different type of sensor, but the drives I've worked on that had this problem the fix was to replace the little light bulb. The light reflects off the silver aluminum tape on the tape itself to a sensor. If the bulb is burned out the sensor doesn't work. (I admit this is older technology here, yours may be different). "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing....."