On 12/02/2015 09:39 AM, Bob Supnik wrote:
A friend found a 9-track magtape that contains a backup of
> the operating system for the Datacraft 6024/3, a 24-bit
system from the 1970s. This may be the only surviving software for that machine. He thought he had a transcription, but
> apparently not.
If the tape is still readable, he'll need a system with a
> working 9-track magtape, preferably one that treats tapes > very gently. Does anyone know of a working setup? I just happen to be in the process of making TPC files of my 900 9-tracks (500 done, 400 to go), so I think I can do it. For 1600 and 6250 bpi tapes, I have a DEC TSZ07 which is about the most gentle drive I know. For 800 bpi, my drive is a Cipher 910, which is less gentle. Because of the problem with the binder chemistry of old tapes, I bake the tapes for 48 to 72 hours at 134 degrees F before trying to read them. Even then, I have only about a 80% success rate. 3M Blackwatch tapes read the best, while old DEC distribution tapes are about the worst. Everything else is a crap shoot. I am leaving town in a few minutes and will not be back for at least a week. I will not have any email access until my return, so please be patient. Alan Frisbie _______________________________________________ Simh mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.trailing-edge.com/mailman/listinfo/simh
