where's the tape gone??

[BR796964]

I have compaq 40/80 GB DLT I put a tape in last night and this morning all the lights were falshing on the bottom or right side. Finally go the tape out it it was much lighter than usual, the tape media had gone. I couldn't see it in the drive but the drive won't load another tape and the lights continue flash. Windows and Veritas see the drive fine. Anyone had the same problem.. do you think the drive is faulty or just bad tapes.

[CA713937]

Your drive most likely unspooled all the tape into the drive. One possible cause is clogged BOT/EOT sensor, and the drive did not see the end of tape (EOT) hole.

If your drive is under warranty, call to have it replaced. If not, we can tell you how to repair it.

[BR796964]

Thank you

Can you tell me how to repair it please

[CA713937]

If your drive is out of warranty:

You will need to remove the drive from an enclosure, remove the dust cover over the tape path area, find the end of the tape, and then manually unspool it. Then you will need to reattach the leader. Before doing that, get a can of compressed air and blow out the BOT/EOT sensor which is in the tape path clockwise of the head about an inch or so.

Here's the doc to reattach the leader:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=lpg50338