HP 5GB External Tape Backup

[CA1242990]

I have two HP 5GB External Tape Backup. I am able to backup and to restore with both machine; however, neither can read and restore tapes backs made on the other - that is, I perform a backup on a new HP 5GB tape on machine A; and machine B can identify the tape but freezes when trying to read the tape. I can read and restore on tapes made from either A or B on my HP 8GB internal tape backup. Why is this happening? Why can't A and B (both external 5GB tape backup machines) read each others tapes? Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.

[Lewis Finch]

richard, my best guess would be that the read write heads are slightly mis aligned on one of the drives. no fix to that

[CA1198775]

My first thought was: Do they have the same firmware ? Have experienced some of the same
between two units, one a 5gb and the other
an 8gb. The 8 gb had firmware 2.02 while
the 5gb was upgraded to 8gb and firmware
2,08. When the the original 8 gb (the one with 2.02) was upgraded to firmware 2.08,
the freezing was gone.

regards
erik

[CA1242990]

Erik,

How can I determine what is the firmware presently used by the two 5GB external drives? What firmware upgrade do I used - one system is Windows 98 and the other system is Windows Me?

I have only found firmware upgrade for Windows 98, and it is for 5GBi. What do I search for on HP site?

Thank you.

[CA1198775]

For check on firmware:
Controlpanel, system, tapedrives, settings.
This will display the firmware-revision.

For firmware upgrade, see my experience
on thread "upgrade 5gb til 8gb if unit
has firmware 2.08" (or something like that).
I have listed my experience there.
Good luck !!

erik