My internal Dell (Seagate) DDS tape drive is about 5 years old. It runs every weeknight. For the past two months, I've been getting hard read and write errors if I don't clean the drive every 2-3 days. Does this indicate that it's time to replace it? Or does it maybe need a more thorough cleaning than what a cleaning tape can offer?
Thank you.
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Based on what you've done, it does sound like the tape drive is very possibly getting old. The drive doesn't actually measure the 'stuff' on the head, it tracks write or read errors, and when those errors pass a threshold, it asks for a cleaning. But the errors caused by head wear will also cause the 'clean' light to come on; it's not a very intelligent decision tree.
Since this drive is out of warranty, I would agree with Fuze that you attempt to blow out dust that may have accumulated in the drive mechanism (and which could be contributing to the only briefly effective cleanings). Then you can try to clean the head itself with a lint-free swab and either denatured or 90% isopropyl alcohol, by getting the swab damp and rubbing on the head, continuing with a new swab until it comes clean. Sometimes there is 'gunk' stuck to the head that a cleaning tape cannot remove.
Remember to blow out the drive before you manually clean the head, or you'll blow a bunch more junk onto the head.
I've had cleaning tapes go dirty before well withing their 'tape life'
If any of your tapes were stored in a dirty environment then everytime they unwind it spreads muck inside the drive. Tapes (including cleaning tapes) need to be kept in a clean environment. Ideally in it's original tape box, inside a clean cupboard. I've seen cleaning tapes in the strangest of places!
Try getting a log of when you have to run the cleaning tape through the device? This will narrow down the tapes that could be dirty.
Darren
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by: dbruntonPosted on 2009-07-22 at 17:03:44ID: 24920847
Could also be the tapes themselves going dead. How old are they and how often are they used?
Try cleaning the tape drive itself. A good vacuuming or blowing out with compressed air could well be in order for this drive. And check the inside of the computer. Could be dust build up there as well.