Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hpfcso!rjn
From: rjn@hpfcso.HP.COM (Bob Niland)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: Can I use 3M cartridge tabe for HP 9144A
Message-ID: <7370287@hpfcso.HP.COM>
Date: 20 Jan 91 21:59:06 GMT
References: <1991Jan20.155143.15043@polyof.poly.edu>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard/FSY Ft.Collins,CO,USA
Lines: 34

re: > And couple weeks ago, I received HP 9144A cartridge tape drive. 

>   Can I get compatible cartridge tape from 3M?
>   Do I need formatted cartridge tape?

You must REALLY want an answer, because we got 8 copies of your question
in a single article!

Anyhow, the generic industry designation for the 88140SC and 88140LC is
DC615HC and DC600HC.  The HP version of these cartridges is pre-certified,
includes HP legends/labels and may conform to other quality standards not
required on a generic 'HC cartridge.  

I would suggest performing ...
# mediainit -vr /dev/rct
...on any generic 'HC cartridges.  This will spare any bad blocks.

The 3M HCD-75 tape format requires full-track "keys" be written on the tape
delimiting the 1.5Kbyte physical (1K logical record) blocks on the tape.
The 9144A has only a 1/16-track head, and cannot format a non-HC tape, npr
re-format an 'HC tape that has been deguassed or written on (and ruined) by
a QIC drive.

I have a longer article available on HP tapes.  HP does not support the use
of non-HP tapes.  That is, you can do it, but we aren't obliged to resolve
any problems that might arise.

Regards,                                              Hewlett-Packard
Bob Niland      Internet: rjn@FC.HP.COM               3404 East Harmony Road
                UUCP: [hplabs|hpfcse]!hpfcrjn!rjn     Ft Collins CO 80525-9599

This response does not represent the official position of, or statement by,
the Hewlett-Packard Company.  The above data is provided for informational
purposes only.  It is supplied without warranty of any kind.