[rescue] Tape drive woes

[Phil Stracchino]

Yesterday, I upgraded the firmware on my Ecrix (now Exabyte) VXA-1 8mm
packet tape drive to the latest firmware as instructed by Exabyte tech
support, in the course of resolving an apparent software compatibility
issue.

It appears that upgrading the firmware has completely and irreversably
hosed the drive.  It's now totally dead in the water.  It crashes hard
on writes, reads, even rewinds.  Reflashing it with the previous
firmware (which was working) doesn't fix the problem.

It's almost certainly long out of warranty.  I have a nasty suspicion
I'm going to end up SOL on it, which will leave me with no sanely
feasible backup device.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where I might possibly lay my hands
on a retired-but-working AIT/VXA/Mammoth/LTO/Ultrium/whatever class tape
drive, in the event that my VXA-1 has indeed rung down the heavenly
curtain and joined the choir invisible?


(Naturally, since it was following Exabyte's advice that screwed up the
drive, I'm HOPING they'll Do The Right Thing and fix or replace it for
me, considering that by all indications the only reason I have this
problem is because I followed their instructions.)


-- 
  ========== Fight Back!  It may not be just YOUR life at risk. ==========
  alaric at caerllewys.net : phil-stracchino at earthlink.net : phil at novylen.net
   phil stracchino : unix ronin : renaissance man : mystic zen biker geek
     2000 CBR929RR, 1991 VFR750F3 (foully murdered), 1986 VF500F (sold)
           Linux Now!  ...Friends don't let friends use Microsoft.