Computer Tape Drive Help

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Computer Hardware
Information about Computer Tape Drives

Quick links

Tape drive ABCs
Tape drive standards
Other Backup Solutions
Technical Support
Tape definitions

Tape drive ABCs

Tape drives allow large companies as well as end users to backup large amounts of data. Tape drives are capable of backing up a couple hundred megabytes to several gigabytes of information without having to spend large sums of money on disks.

Generally, most people find it difficult to backup information; therefore, they never backup their information. Tape Drive software is generally easy to use and can usually be run without supervision.

While Tape Drives are cost efficient and easy to use, one major disadvantage Tape Drives have is the speed which they backup and recover information. Tape drives are Sequential access devices, which means to read any data on the Tape Drive, the Tape Drive must read all preceding data.

Tape drive standards

8mm Tape Drive - Manufactured and available through Exabyte. 8mm tapes are similar to what are used in camcorder. 8mm tapes are a faster solution than the DAT and transfer up to 6M/Sec. While the tapes are similar to camcorder tapes, it is recommended that to backup information you use 8mm tapes designed for your drive.

DAT (Digital Audio Tape) - Please see our DAT dictionary definition page for additional information about this standard.

DLT (Digital Linear Tape) - DLT drives are a robust and durable medium. The DLT segments the tape into parallel horizontal tracks and records data by streaming the tape across a single stationary head. Released in 1991, DLT drives are very reliable, high-speed, and high-capacity, making the DLT drives an excellent use for Network backups.

QIC Standard - Please see our QIC dictionary definition page for additional information about this standard.

Other backup solutions

Floppy Drive
Hard Disk Drive
Imation LS-120
Iomega Zip Drive
Iomega Jaz Drive

Index

Category:
Hardware

Companies:
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Related Pages:
Conner Tape Drive
HP Tape Drive

Drivers

Tape Drive Drivers

Resolved

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TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Installation help
Windows 3.X Help
Windows 95/98 Help
Windows NT Help
Help by product

Installation help

IDE - If you are attempting to install an EIDE/IDE tape drive, ensure that the jumpers are properly set on the tape drive. If you are connecting the Tape Drive directly to the motherboard or interface card, ensure that the jumpers are set to master. If you have another device connected to the same EIDE/IDE controller, one device must be set to master and the other must be set to slave. For additional information on EIDE/IDE, see our EIDE/IDE page.
PARALLEL - When installing Parallel tape drives, most tape drives require that your LPT port be running in Bi-Directional Mode. Information on CMOS can be found on our CMOS Page.
SCSI - Ensure that you have correctly configured the SCSI card and that the Tape drive is defined and/or selected within the SCSI select. For additional help on SCSI, see our SCSI page.
FORMAT DISKS - Before backing anything onto your tape disks, you must format the disks, preparing them to be written to.

Windows 3.X troubleshooting

Currently being created

Windows 95 / 98 troubleshooting

Currently being created

Windows NT troubleshooting

Windows NT 4.0 not detecting SCSI tape drive. - Windows NT 4.0 will not automatically install a SCSI tape drive during installation, therefore after the installation of Windows NT 4.0 is complete:

Install Latest Service Pack - Because of various issues, we always recommend that the first step in troubleshooting Windows NT is that the latest service pack be installed.
Open Tape Devices - Click Start / Settings / Control Panel / Double-click Tape Devices.
Detect and Install Tape Devices - Once the new Tape Devices window is open, click the Detect button. If your tape drive is properly installed within the computer, Windows NT should now detect and run through the setup of the tape drive.

Tape Drive is not recognized after installing Service Pack 3 - This generally occurs with conflictions with the ATAPI driver which locates the IDE controller. To resolve this issue, change the I/O range to something other than 0x3F6

Help by product

Issues may arise which only occur when using a certain product. Below is a listing of tape drives and backup software which we have currently in our database. If you were unable to locate your resolution within this page, ensure that if your product is listed that you visit its page.

Colorado Tape Drive
Conner Tape Drive

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