This version of the DataStream driver incorporates several new
features:
Compatibility with Apple's System Release 6.0: For example, when
ejecting a tape under System 6.0 with version 1.15 of the DataStream
driver, the eject message remained on the screen even after the
tape had been ejected. This is fixed in version 2.02. Version
2.02 has been thoroughly tested with System Tools 5.0 and System
Tools 6.0, under both Finder and MultiFinder.
Ease of use: There is no longer any need to use DataForm 1.0d
to Format or Initialize a tape, nor do you have to struggle with
that age-old question of whether you need to "Format" or "Initialize".
Version 2.02 automatically detects whether a tape has been previously formatted/initialized when you insert the tape and presents the standard "This disk is unreadable: ..." dialog box. If a tape needs to be formatted, it will be. Otherwise, the driver will
just initialize the tape. The standard Macintosh dialog box says
"disk" instead of "tape" because it was not practical for us to
patch the System routines every time the Macintosh received a
tape/disk inserted event in order to change the wording in the
dialog box.
Formatting/Initializing tapes: If you want to format or initialize
a tape, just select its icon (if it is not already selected),
then select "Erase Disk" from the Special menu in the Finder.
If you hold down the option key while clicking on "Initialize,"
the tape will be formatted and a message stating that it will
take about 40 minutes will be displayed on the screen. You may
want to do this if you suspect that the format of your tape has
become corrupted. This will repair the format of your tape and
map out any bad sectors that may be present on the tape. Otherwise, the tape will just be initialized when you click on "Initialize" without the option key depressed. Initializing takes only a few minutes.
Compatibility with MultiFinder: DataForm 1.0d was not compatible
with MultiFinder. DataForm is now obsolete due to the fact that
the new driver handles initializing and formatting. DataStream
2.02 is fully MultiFinder compatible, as is DiskFit 1.41, the
recommended back-up program for use with the tape driver. However, it is not recommended that you use tape in the background. Because tape fully occupies the Macintosh when it is running, you will find that you can do little else while the tape is accessing and this makes it infeasible to use as a background operation.
Full compatibility with the Macintosh SE: Older versions of the
DataStream driver sometimes encountered a problem on Macintosh
SE's which had multiple SCSI devices connected which caused all
operations on the Mac to slow down considerably. When this occurred, it might take 5-10 seconds for a pull-down menu to drop down. This problem was very rare and difficult to duplicate but it was finally identified as a timing problem which was definitely corrected in version 2.02.
Improved tape readability: Improvements have been made to the
driver's ability to distinguish a good tape from a bad one. These
changes are expected to reduce the occurrence of the "This disk
is unreadable: ..." message for tapes which have previously been
used to back up data.
Precautions to protect your tapes and the data on them:
1. Do not put the tape unit on the left side of the Macintosh,
next to the power supply. Hard drives and tape units should always
be placed on the right side of the Macintosh to minimize the potentially harmful effects of interference produced by the power supply. This interference could cause the tapes (and disks) you are using to become corrupted.
2. Clean the read/write head in the tape unit at least once/month
with a cotton swab dampened with isopropyl alcohol.
3. Never leave the tapes in the tape unit when they are not being
used. Always store them in their plastic cases in a cool place
away from strong magnetic fields.
4. Have more than one back-up set and use them alternately!!!!
We also recommend that you store one backup set off-site in case
of fire, flood, theft, etc.
5. When restoring your data, lock the tape. Restoring is a read-only
process. If a problem occurs (like a power failure), this precaution
may save your tape from corruption.
Trouble-Shooting Bad Tapes:
1. Are you using DataStream 2.02? If not make sure that you have
replaced DataStream 1.15 in your System Folder with version 2.02.
2. Try cleaning the Read/Write head as described above and then
reinserting the tape.
3. Try inserting other tapes (lock them first) into the tape unit.
If all of the previously good tapes suddenly appear to be bad,
the tape unit may be defective, the driver software may be damaged
(replace the driver, throw away the %%TapeCache%% and reboot),
or there may be a conflict between the tape driver and other inits
in the System folder. Try booting with a floppy disk which contains
a known good copy of the System software without any inits in
the System folder other than the DataStream init. If just one
tape appears to be bad, then you can conclude that either the
tape is defective or the tape was subjected to a magnetic field
which rendered the data unreadable. If all the tapes are unreadable,
you might want to try to contact a dealer and try it with his
DataStream (if he has one) to see if it is definitely a problem
with your tape unit.
4. Something which may work, although its success has been limited,
is to use Disk First Aid. If you have the %%TapeCache%% of the
tape the last time it was inserted into the drive and was readable
(bear in mind that the %%TapeCache%% is updated each time a different tape is inserted), you may be able to save your tape. With the %%TapeCache%% file in the System Folder and the DataStream Driver installed, run Disk First Aid, insert the tape, open the volume
once the tape stops winding, select "Repair Automatically" and
click on "Begin." If this doesn't work, there is little that
can be done to recover tape with standard recovery utilities.
For this reason, you should always have at least one other back-up
and should follow the prevention tips that are listed above!!
It is much easier to rely on a safety back-up than suffering
the immense frustrations of unreadable media. Protect Your Data!!
