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Resolved Question

Issue with Quantum DLT7000 tape drive. Can anyone help?

Mar 11, 2015 1:16AM PDT

Can anyone help troubleshoot an issue with a Quantum DLT7000 tape drive (Model # TH6BF-EY)?



This is an external SCSI drive. The company I
work for has been using this tape drive for several years to backup and
retrieve files. But it has developed an issue.



When working normally, on power up the drive
illuminates all of it's indicator lights, then makes a brief buzzing sound,
then after a few seconds it makes a beep sound in tandem with lighting up the
"Operator Handle" light on the lower right side of the drive's face.



A couple of days ago, when powered up, it started
waiting several more seconds between the buzzing sound and the beep sound, and
instead of illuminating only the "Operator Handle" light, it illuminates all
four lights on the right side, blinking the three lights that are above the
Operator Handle light. Upon erroring out, the drive cycles through the same
sequence again, with the same result. Tapes can be loaded into it, but the
drive doesn't do anything with the tapes because it doesn't get past it's
startup sequence successfully.



Per their website, Quantum no longer supports
this drive. Their manual does not include a troubleshooting section.



Has anyone ever seen this issue before, and if so
is there a known fix? The blinking lights are obviously indicating some sort of
error (probably mechanical?), and I'm trying to find out whether the issue is user-fixable
or not.



Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Discussion is locked

dltusermg has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Sadly yes.
Mar 11, 2015 1:23AM PDT
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Thanks!
Mar 11, 2015 1:34AM PDT

Thanks for your reply! Yes I have said before that we should move to an HDD solution instead of tapes but that was a no go. I was instructed by my boss to see if the tape drive was serviceable or not (hence my post), but it sounds like it may be time to replace it. Thanks again! Happy

If anyone else concurs or has other suggestions, please feel free to post them!

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Here's what I meant by serviceable.
Mar 11, 2015 1:44AM PDT

You put the drive into another case. Or a drive into this case. There's next to nothing in the drive save head cleaning that is user serviceable.

https://www.google.com/#q=quantum+tape+drive+repair finds the usual repair houses. But the repair usually costs as much as some used working drive. But there are folk that refurb drives so yes it can be done.

http://www.quantum.com/serviceandsupport/serviceproviders/index.aspx has the authorized repair/support companies as well.

-> I know a little about that since a shop I helped at years ago sold such things.
Bob

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Thanks again!
Mar 11, 2015 2:02AM PDT

Okay thank so much for your help! I don't think I want to get into swapping drives/cases. A refurb/repair may be an option but as you said it may be about the same as a used working drive. Thanks again! Happy

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Answer
I know you know this but a blank tape runs about 20 bucks?
Mar 11, 2015 2:13AM PDT
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Resolved
Mar 11, 2015 6:13AM PDT

Thanks for the help, Bob! I spoke with my boss and went the repair route as an intermediate step to switching to a HDD solution. Found a shop that can repair it, knows what they're doing, and charges a reasonable price.

The repair tech I spoke with said it could be the drive's main board, which they will replace if necessary. First they are going to take the drive apart and do a thorough cleaning and see if that resolves the issue.