CompuServe Messages

Jim, Please let me know if Exabyte tell you how to turn off compression on their tape drives. I am convinced that it is not helping to recompress material that is already compressed. I agree that backup up a project twice to ensure no clip losses is not efficient and expensive, but right now that is the only way that I can ensure that I will be able to completely restore large projects. From the owner's manual for the 8205 and 8505 Exabyte tape drives, here is a summary of what the LED activity means: "When the top (orange) LED is flashing, the tape drive has an error or needs cleaning." "When the middle LED is on or flashing, SCSI bus activity is occurring. If the middle LED is organge the tape loaded in the tape drive is one of the compression formats (8500c or 8200c). Note that when the tape is in 8500c format, the LED is always orange even thogh compression can be turned off." [I wish they would tell you how in the manual!!!] "When the middle LEE is green, the tape loaded in the tape drive is in one of the non-compression formats (8500 or 8200)." "When the bottom (green) LED is on, a data cartridge is loaded in the tape drive. When this LED is flashing, the tape is moving or the drive needs cleaning. In the latter case both the top (orange) LED and the bottom (green) LED will flash rapidly." I hope the above information is helpful to you. Tom