#Problem with Wangtek
10 messages in this thread
Little story…….
I too have the QUARTERBACK software. It seemed to recognize the Wangtek, and
came up with its name etc. on the screen. After getting the Wangtek to
operate, I tried a small bnackup of my DH0: drive, which only contains some 4
to 5 Megs of files. It did it perfectly with one of my new tapes loaded into
it. Checked it out with the "Restore"… and all was well.
Thinking that the problem was solved, next tried to backup my DH1: drive –
which contains around 84 Megs of "Toaster" material. The drive operated for
around 20 minutes or so. When I went to check iot out with Restore…. a little
message told me that it was not a correct backup!.
Next, I tried to use the "Erase" on the Quarterback tape control. Again it made
some motions for about 5 minutes, then a notice appeared saying "Cannot erase
tape"!
In summary all seems to go OK if you try and backup – say 5 to 7 Megs. Things
fall apart on a large disk partition – like my 84 Megs.
Have some questions: 1). After backing up to a tape, and wanting to use it a
second time…. do you have to erase that tape…. before the second time use,
or does it just erase and write over the first backup? 2). Up to now I have
just tried the normal setup for backup…. the 12 bit way. Is there any
advantage of moving to 14 or 16 bits compression ?
Although I have got the beast at least to whirr… and move… I still have to
iron out its workings. I did get it to save those huge amounts of "Toaster"
data, which it still will not do.
Thanks for your past and present help.
HILARY
You might want to try AmiBack 2.0 from Moonlighter Software.
I used their software on a DAT w/o problem a few months ago. I've heard of
bugs with certain versions of Quarterback……..
Good Luck,
Erik Flom
Thanks for the suggestion Erik.
After playing with the installed Wangtek, have come to the conclusion that it's
the culprit – not the software.
Problem seems to be that the read/write/erase head is not moving up/down as it
scans the tracks on a tape. As far as I can see… each track takes around 8 to
9 Megs of data – end to end. Then it moves up/down to the next track… or is
supposed to.
In my case, if I try and backup say 6 Megs…. all is well. It writes it OK and
then verifies it. Perfect backup. If, on the other hand, I try and backup 20
Megs, and the single track will not take this amount, then instead of coming to
the end of the first track – moving the head(s) down and writing track 2…..
the darn thing goes into a rewind. When completed it does try and write again.
Result is a corrupted backup.
Am getting an RMA number from the supplier and shipping it back to them. It was
nice while it lasted…. seing a backup at 2.5 Megs per Min. Am sure that my
cussing has brought about all the bad weather we are having in Pennsylvania.
<g>
Regards, Hilary.
Is this a QIC, or DAT drive? (I'm getting the feeling that I missed
something…)
Anyway, if it is QIC, then don't they just lay the information down on all
tracks in one pass? It would be the easiest way to get the data rate up
(look at DCC), and reduce head and tape wear. It'd be just like a
multi-track audio recorder, not like an 8-track.
BTW, DAT drives (~=$750 new) back up at 11-20MB/min! :^)
Good Luck,
Erik Flom
Hilary,
Did you try to backup the DH1: drive data on the same tape AFTER the
DH0: data? The problem may be that DH1: is the second backup on the tape
and not because it is a bigger partition. Try to back up DH1: as the first
backup on a tape and see if it works. You may be having a problem with
multiple backups on the same tape.
Make sure that the tape is not set to auto-rewind. Then backup a few
files from DH0: for testing purposes. Then immediately after that, backup
a few files from DH1: Then rewind the tape. Then use the Space command
from the Tape Requester. That should space over the first backup and leave
you at the beginning of the second backup. Then try to restore the data
from DH1:. If you're not using the QB macro for multiple backups, then you
must do it manually. You must remember which backup on the tape you want
to restore from and then Space forward manually the correct number of
times. So if you have 4 backups on the tape, you must rewind it to the
beginning and then Space forward 3 times, so you're at the beginning of
the 4th backup before you try to restore from the 4th backup. So in your
example if you rewound the tape and then tried to restore DH1:, which was
the second backup, you should get a message telling you it's not the
correct backup, since you're trying to restore DH1: from the DH0: backup.
I don't know why you couldn't erase the tape. Maybe you tried to erase
after the second backup and there was nothing to erase. To answer your
questions, no, you do not have to erase the tape to use it a second time.
It will be erased automatically during subsequent backups. Next, I don't
use any compression at all when backing up, since it makes the process
slower. The manual explains the advantages of using 14 or 16 bit
compression over 12 bit.
Good luck and keep me posted.
Dom Fontana
–> Sent from NY via AP <–
Vis-a-vis "Little Story":
I also use a WangTek 5150ES and back up 80mb drives often using
Quarterback 5.0 and it works OK. Thought you might like to know. The
program QB does sometimes lock up and always has done, but it sounds
very much to me like you have either a bad cable, badly seated
connector, or terminators not at the ends of the chain.
Thanks for your reply Tom.
From what I could see – with the Wangtek out in the open with the 50 pin cable
plus power attached – there is something haywire with the electro-mechanical
arrangement which moves the read/write head across the tape – to seek out the
next track etc. I watched carefully as it was trying to find the right track.
It seemed very unsure where it should place itself.
Despite the problem, using the new edition of QB (Ver 6.0) I did manage to
backup around 80 Megs. However, the next day, when I put the tape back into the
Wangtek, it could not find the "index"(?) to the tape when I tried it on
restore.
It's on its way back to the vendor for replacement.
I do have a question. Say you use a tape to backup a HD partition. Everything
OK. The next time you put the same tape back into the Wangtek – to backup a
second partition….. does the unit "write over" the first backup ? Is there
so trick whereby you can backup… say Partition A. (100 Megs)… then get the
drive to backup Pasrtition B. (60 Megs)… so that one has two backed up
partitions on the one tape?
Sorry for the questions. No doubt the Wangtek and Quarterback folk do not give
that information in their paperwork, so that they can take satisfaction in the
irate calls for help! <g>.
All the best, HILARY.
AmiBack does that 'append' trick quite well! Mind if I ask what you folks have
been paying for 5150ES drives?
> Mind if I ask what you folks have been paying for 5150ES drives?
Yes! Got mine years ago and the current prices make me cry.
lGlamb lglamb+RV13@rvdc.unisys.com
CTOS Data Comm Support
We paid just under $300 for the Wangtek.
It's now on the way back to the vendor – for repait – checking and/or
replacement.
If you want to know the vendors name/address let me know, will send it E-Mail.
Regards, HILARY.