"clean drive" on 1/8 Tape Autoloader

[Mark_364]

Suddenly we are now getting the "clean drive" light on the tape drive. I have tried to load the cleaning tape but after a few seconds, the autoloader states the tape is invalid, then unloads it. I believe the tape to be correct(HP DLT VS) as it was supplied with the drive. Any help would be appreciated. thanks!

[Joshua Scott]

What is the model number of the Autoloader?

[Mark_364]

"model no." is C9264-67903
"product no." is C9264CB

[Joshua Scott]

The cleaning tape should have a product/part number on it somewhere. The number should be either:
292227-001
or
C7998A

-Josh

[David Ruska]

A DLT (NOT compatible with a DLT1/VS80) cleaning tape says "DLT Cleaning Tape III", or "DLTTape cleaning cartridge" and is TAN in color.

A DLT1 (compatible with DLT1/VS80 drives) is PUTTY GREY in color. It should say something like "hp dlt1 cleaning cartridge".

The tapes are good for only 20 uses (not sure what message the 1/8 gives on an expired cleaning cart).

The pre-merger HP PN is C79998A, as mentioned already.

[David Ruska]

We verified that attempting to use a DLT (not DLT1) cleaning tape in a 1/8 VS80 autoloader results in an "invalid tape" message.

[Mark_364]

Thanks all for your input. Where did you track down the correct tape to use? Anyway, I will order the correct tape right away.

[David Ruska · Accepted solution]

> Where did you track down the correct tape to use?

The users manual,
http://h200006.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/lpg29168/lpg29168.pdf,
says to use only a DLT1 compatable cleaning cartridge. It then points to www.hp.com/go/storagemedia.

From there, you can find the DLT1 cleaning tape (C7998A):
http://www.hp.com/products1/storage/products/storagemedia/tape_dlt/index.html

[Joshua Scott]

I tracked down the correct cartridge at:

http://partsurfer.hp.com/

input your tape drive model number in the top box, and select it from the list that goes to. then select list all parts. the window that pops up will list all parts associated with that product. the cleaning tape is listed there.

[Mark_364]

ok, all good comments - thanks sincerely for all your help. must remember to rtfm next time! cheers. m