KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q156363: Tape and Drive Compatibility for QIC 117 S

Article: Q156363
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): WinNT:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbhw kbHardware
Last Modified: 10-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

Compatibilty and tape capacity for QIC 117 standard tape backups depend on the
floppy disk drive controller, tape format, and the tape backup unit.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The controller requirements for floppy disk drive-based backups are as follows:

QIC117 Standard      Supported Tape Formats
===============      ======================
QIC-40               Read/write QIC-40 tapes

QIC-80               Read QIC-40 tapes
                    Read/write QIC/80 tapes
                    Includes WIDE and TR-1 formatted tapes

QIC-3010             Read QIC-40/80 tapes
                    Read/write QIC-3010 tapes
                    Includes WIDE and TR-2 formatted tapes
                    if the drive will accept these

QIC-3020             Read QIC-40/80 tapes and QIC-3010 tapes
                    Read/write QIC-3020 tapes
                    Includes WIDE and TR-3 tapes

To determine the computer's floppy disk drive controller type through the Windows
NT registry, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  ARTICLE-ID: Q156362
  TITLE : Floppy Controller Requirements for QIC-117

QIC drives will not read tapes formatted with a later QIC Drive series format.
For example, QIC-3010 drives will not read QIC-3020-formatted tapes. QIC-40/80
drives will not read QIC-3010 or QIC-3020-formatted tapes.

The drive's functionality and capacity are limited to the lowest common
denominator of floppy disk drive controller speed, tape backup unit, or the tape
format itself. A QIC-3020 that requires a 1 Mbps controller for full
functionality essentially becomes a QIC-3010 series drive when placed on a 500
Kbps controller (and shares the same behavior and limitations as a 3010 Series
drive). Compatibility and limitations are summarized in the chart below:

                     Tape Format
QIC117 Standard       40      80     3010    3020
===============       ===========================
40                    RW      x      x       x
80                    R       RW     x       x
3010                  R       R      RW      x
3020                  R       R      R       RW

x = unsupported configuration


Additional query words: tape travan wide qic117 backup

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbhw kbHardware 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : WinNT:4.0

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.