CompuServe Messages

Bryan, Based on my conversations with you here, adaptec, Corel and HDSS (the mail order vendor), I ordered Archive Turbo Python DAT drive (DDS SCSI-2 Model 4324MP, internal) 4-8 GB DAT and Adaptec 1542C (ISA, SCSI-2, Fast SCSI) with the SCSI Master Plus kit (which included Corel SCSI!?) from HDSS. I have a 486DX-66/256KCache/16MB memory/8 ISA (2 VLB)/ 512 MB IDE(ISA)HD/Trident SVGA system. I installed the internal tape drive (with default factory switch setting, SCSI ID 0), the Adaptec board (SCSI ID 7, Port 330, DMA 5, IRQ 11, BIOS addr CC000), both terminated, using a 50-pin internal SCSI BUS cable. These two are the only two SCSI things on the cable (as as in the PC). I installed adapatec ASPI manager driver ASPI4DOS.SYS in my config.sys as the first thing (even before QEMM.SYS/HIMEM.SYS) with parameters /P330 & /D. After rebooting, installed the DOS and windows versions of the Corel utilities that came in the SCSI Master plus kit. As I did not have any SCSI CD-ROM or hard-disks in the system, it did not install in my config.sys any additional device (driver) lines. After rebooting, I tried the Corel tape backup program for DOS, CTBACKUP.EXE that came as part of the Adaptec SCSI Master Plus kit. First thing I tried to do was to try to format a DAT tape. I got a big red screen with the error message "selected device can not be recognized!" I tried the Corel tape backup program for Windows, WTBACKUP.EXE, that came with the Adaptec SCSI Master Plus kit. That also gave a similar message. Seems that the DOS and Windows programs Corel tape backup (that Adaptec provided in their SCSI Master Plus kit) are programmed to look for a "recognizable" tape drive and they see the tape drive but do not seem to recognize the tape drive that they do see! I say this because, a strange thing later happened. When I invoked the DOS tape backup program CTBACKUP.EXE with a parameter "?" on the command line it no longer gave the error message and started working normally. Out of curiosity, when I tried the same thing with different characters on the command line, the program worked OK as long as I typed SOMETHING on the command line after the command ctbackup! I called Adaptec tech support hot line late yesterday (11/11). The guy I talked to did not have much experience with SCSI tape drives and asked me to download the latest version of ASPI4DOS.SYS from their bulletin board. Last night, I did that and tried the latest (v 3.22) version. Did not help any! Do you have any idea what I can do next? Will appreciate any help. If possible, please call 908-463-8765 and leave a voice msg or CIS MAIL to this Compuserve ID (72350,3234). Thanks. –Piyush Majmudar p.s.: The CTBACKUP.EXE is 200257 bytes (5/19/92 15:41:04) and the WTBACKUP.EXE is 140080 bytes (5/12/92 01:11:00).