718 autoloader

[rich johnson_2]

I have an HP 718 autoloader with a DLT7000 drive. The drive is a Quantum TH6XF-RH A08. It won't load the tape, the take up reel just spins and then the drive times out. Is it possible to replace the drive with another type? Or maybe a DLT8000? Any ideas?

[Florian Heigl (new acc)]

Could You check if the tape leader jumped off it's hook?
(common DLT problem and easily fixed)

In general, DLT drives are interchangable, but of course You could run into firmware issues...

I swapped the drive in an ADIC autoloader w/o any problems, though.
(more exactly, I made three broken drives into one :>

[Florian Heigl (new acc)]

(Assuming You don't have any kind of warranty left...)

[David Ruska]

It sounds like a dropped leader. If your drive is out of warranty, look at this doc:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=lpg50338

Regarding exchange of drives, different libraries and autoloaders usually have some unqiue modifications to the drive. Most have a unique version (referred to as "personality") of firmware that tailors how it communicates across the serial interface to the robotic controller. Also, there may be some mechanical differences with the bezel and the door handle control. Thus I would caution on changing out drives with anything except a like model product.