![]() ![]() InterfaceĪs previously mentioned, my selected drive is SCSI – making attachment to a PC pretty easy. I pulled the tape out to discover this:Īs of 2020 – 1990s tapes and newer (DC6150 and onwards) still work pretty well. I put a tape in the drive, it spun back and forward OK but eventually seized up. I was already aware that capstan restoration is a big subject in vintage computing so was expecting difficulties – but initially thought I’d be right because my capstan looked intact. Unfortunately – after several decades it breaks down and turns to goop. The issue we’re very likely going to hit with these drives is the rubber-like material on the capstan, a rubber Tyre on a brass wheel which drives the tape backwards and forward. ![]() On my drive the formatter is crammed onto the same PCB as the basic drive control circuitry. “Formatter” cards were available, which were attached to the underside of the drive, translating the oddball QIC interface to SCSI. 5150, 5125, 5099) had an obscure “QIC” interface which required a special ISA interface card. Here is a page from it.Įarlier drives (i.e. Intriguingly the schematic as well as a very detailed service manual for these drives is available. Let’s hit up eBay for a pile of old tape junk, and see what kind of difficulties we run into. More likely, it’s everything else that’s going to get in our way – software, tape drive hardware, interfaces, drivers, etc. If the tape is intact (not so likely in the case of cheap “no brand” tapes of the day), the data will be there. Besides, the laws of physics tell us that we don’t need to test this. That unfortunately is the one test I cannot easily do, because I don’t have any period-written tapes test, and I’m not entirely comfortable about buying other peoples’ tapes off eBay. While our tapes are unlikely to ever be seen again, if we could reach into the past and grab that tape briefcase, what kind of prospects would we have of recovering that data? All of the stuff I show here remains cheap and plentiful! Even today we’re practically up to our knees in QIC tapes and drives, the world over. The QIC form factor enjoyed a huge lifespan – with the earliest 2.9MB (DC300A) tapes appearing in 1972, right through to the final 20GB (SLR50) type released 25 years later in 1997. Order your data storage products online today to take advantage of Staples next day delivery to get your order delivered direct to your door or business address.Pictured is a 3M DC6525 (525MB) QIC (Quarter Inch Cartridge) tape – which is the exact type of tape that was used to backup data from our family computer when I was a child.ĭisclaimer: A cornucopia of different tapes where also used in our household including DC6250, DC6150, DC600A, and even some mini-QIC tapes (DC2120, DC2000) – just for good measure. Data tapes is a great long term storage solution for business data or can be used as a backup for large amounts of data. Our collection of blank CD’s and blank DVD’s mean that you can create a copy of any media that you may have on your computer. If you take a lot of photos, upgrading to a larger memory card or buying a replacement is a great idea. SD and micro SD cards are ideal for saving photos and digital images in both digital cameras and mobile phones. These will often store around 4 to 64 gigabytes of data. USB flash drives are an effective way to transfer and store most digital files without taking up lots of room and being an issue to transport. They normally connect to your device via a USB cable. They typically range in size from 160 gigabytes to 3 terabytes. ![]() They are also ideal for if you need to take documents between both work and home but don’t have access to cloud storage. Our collection of external hard drives are ideal for keeping your digital files and documents secure in one easy to access portable place. We have a wide variety of storage options available including external hard drives, USB flash drives, SD and micro SD cards, blank CD’s and blank DVD’s and data tapes. Data storage is important when you need additional space beyond the capacity of your hard drive, or if you require data storage for backup purposes. Browse our selection of data storage products to for reliable backups and portable storage solutions. ![]()
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