ADR50 controller error(?)

[WMSTECH]

Having been through the FAQ (very thorough) and having had the drive go out just after OnStream support disappeared, I'll post here. The facts:

Model ADR50
Serial EA10K200346
Firmware 2.39
OS W2K Server
Driver 1.12.0.0 1/10/2002
Using the ArcServeIT standard edition that came with the drive to back up the local server

The drive is recognized by the SCSI BIOS and the OS. Immediately after bootup, the LED goes into a continuous fast flash (ca. 3/sec). Insert and eject seem to still be working. Tape commands from ArcServe result in the following messages:

E6084 Drive hardware error - servo or sensor [ABSL:2020 CMD:1h]

E3855 Unable to position media. (MEDIA=<media name>, EC=000000FE)

I'm interested in whether or not this might be something I can deal with. Thanks!

 

[gwootton]

You're running the Onstream drivers, so try disabling any ArcServ services you have running, start up the removable storage service, and try with the native backup. This way you can isolate whether it is a software problem or a hardware problem.

thanks,
greg

 

[WMSTECH]

Greg--thanks for your reply!

When I insert a tape, Removable Storage still shows the drive as Empty, and the native backup gives me Missing Media messages, so I think software in general can't see the tapes.

I notice that the fast flash only goes on when a tape is in the drive; when the tape is out, the LED is dark.

I don't know whether it's relevant, but I discovered that on one of the cartridges, the tape was bunched up under the door, with the end of the tape on the hinge side pulled free of the cartridge.

--Bruce

 

[gwootton]

Bruce,
It sounds like the drive is just not trying to mount the tape. If when you insert the tape it just immediately goes in to the fast flash and doesn't make any sounds like it's trying to read the tape, it's more than likely going to be a problem with the drive. As long as not all of the tapes are like that, that probably won't make a difference, but it may have caused the problem. It's probably a problem with the motor itself or the read head, either way, you'd probably want to replace the drive.
Thanks,
Greg

 

[WMSTECH]

Greg--

From everything I can see, and what you've told me, it looks like the drive is shot. Oh, well...

Thanks again for your expertise!

--Bruce