My Recollection is that these drives have 
really crummy heads and they wear out very
easily.  This could be it -or- are you using
the same tape on all four drives?

My $0.02 (soon to be DM 0,04)


Andy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NetBSD Bob [mailto:nbsdbob@weedcon1.cropsci.ncsu.edu]
> Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2000 11:15 AM
> To: port-vax@netbsd.org
> Cc: Robert D. Keys
> Subject: Cleaning TK50 drives.... any thoughts?
> 
> 
> Wilst on the issue of tape booting....
> 
> 1) I am beginning to have read problems on my TK50 drives 
> (all four of them).
>    It appears that it is most likely a transport cleaning problem.
>    What is the good/better/best/proper way to clean TK50 (or 
> even TK70)
>    tape transports?
> 
> 2) What is the proper way to erase TK50 tapes?  There is no 
> operational
>    erase capability in the drivers.  I sense that IFF I could fully
>    erase the tapes, that might clear up some of the problems.
> 
> Thanks for any insights, suggestions, etc.
> 
> Bob
>