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HP Direct Tape Access, Version 2.04
  

Copyright Seagate Software, Inc. 1996.
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This file contains important information which supplements
the User Guide and On-line Help.

The following subjects are discussed:

       1.   Getting Started
       2.   Special Considerations
       3.   Performance Issues
       4.   Known Issues
       5.   System Requirements
       6.   Removing Your Direct Tape Software Program Files


   1.  Getting Started
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This product enables access to your tape drive from
Windows. You can now use your tape drive for file
storage and retrieval as if it was a large floppy
disk. A tape icon is displayed in the Windows 3.x
File Manager, where you can view the contents of your
tape, open files, and move files to and from tape.

A Toolkit icon appears in the HP Direct Tape Access
program group window. The Tape Toolkit provides
access to the tools you need to perform tape
operations.

HP Direct Tape Access also creates a new menu
item called Tape, that appears in the File Manager.

This program automatically detects your tape drive.
However, if you need to configure your tape drive use
the Setup dialog box accessed in the Control Panel.
Tapes must be formatted for HP Direct Tape Access
use. Refer to the on-line help for configuration and
formatting instructions.



   2.  Special Considerations
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   * Modifying files directly on tape can cause an inefficient
     use of tape space and may make delays seem excessive.
     When you want to edit a file stored on tape, move the file
     to your hard drive first, make changes, then move the file
     back to tape.

   * Although you can delete files from tape, be aware that space
     on tape is not reclaimed like it is on disks. You must format
     the tape before reclaiming space on tape.
     
     Caution: Formatting erases all data on the tape.

   * We recommend writing the name of the tape after removing it
     from the tape drive. This will help you keep track of multiple
     HP Direct Tape Access and backup tapes.

   * Your direct tape software is automatically suspended when you
     use a backup program. If you need to manually suspend your direct
     tape software, go to the Configuration dialog box, then click
     the Settings button and choose None in the Preferred Drive Letter
     drop-down list box, and then click OK.

     Note: Please make sure all drive operations are finished, before
           launching a backup program.

   * HP Direct Tape Access provides read-only access to tapes written by most
     backup programs. Backup tapes are treated as write-protected
     media until they are formatted by HP Direct Tape Access. Likewise, a backup
     program cannot write to tapes used by HP Direct Tape Access unless they are first
     erased or formatted by a backup program.

   * See your on-line help for additional considerations.



   3.  Performance Issues
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   * Performance depends on various combinations including
     the type of drive, the controller, and the speed of
     your machine. On certain drives HP Direct Tape Access
     is capable of playing AVI, MOV, MPEG, and other types
     of video files directly from tape.

   * Files on tape can be used directly with software applications.
     However, running applications directly off tape is not
     recommended.

   * Caution: Invalid drive settings can cause a General Failure.
              Refer to the Help on configuration.

   * Do not run your backup software until your direct tape
     software has finished accessing your tape drive.



   4.  Known Issues
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   * If you insert a tape that your tape drive does not
     support, HP Direct Tape Access won't recognize the tape.

   * Please note that this software does not support remote
     tape drives.

   * QIC-113 Read Support only supports QIC tapes written by
     Seagate, Arcada, Conner, HP, and Colorado Memory Systems (CMS)
     backup products. In addition, files in password protected
     sessions, spanned sessions, or containing maximum path lengths
     will not be accessible using your direct tape software.

   * If you copy files to the tape until it is full, File Manager
     presents a message indicating the tape (or disk) is full and
     files need to be deleted from the tape. However, deleting files
     from tape does not reclaim tape space. You must format the tape
     before reusing tape space.

   * If your tape drive is unable to estimate the amount
     of tape space available, the program displays a fixed
     value in the Properties dialog box. This value does
     not accurately represent the actual amount of space
     remaining on the tape.

   * Windows and DOS can only report up to 2GB of free space.
     If your tape can hold more than 2GB, this information
     will not be accurately reported until the amount of free
     space on the tape is less than 2GB.

   * This program does not support QIC-40 tapes.

   * Install the program under the same operating system in
     which you will be using HP Direct Tape Access.
     For example, if you plan to run HP Direct Tape Access
     under Win 3.x, run the installer in Win 3.x.

   * HP Direct Tape Access does not run on IBM PS/2 machines
     running Windows 3.1x with a SCSI drive attached.

   * QEMM 8.00 software is incompatible with
     HP Direct Tape Access. If you are using QEMM version
     8.00, please contact Quarterdeck for
     the latest version of their software.

   * If you turn on your tape drive after Windows is running, you must
     reboot before HP Direct Tape Access can use the drive.

   * If your system is not responding and the tape is still spinning, do
     not manually remove the tape from the drive. Manually removing the
     tape from the drive may result in data loss. Rebooting or powering
     down your system at this time may also result in data loss. We
     strongly recommend waiting for the tape operation to complete,
     and then rewinding the tape prior to removal.

   * Sending data to a printer that is connected to a tape drive
     can cause tape commands to fail.  To correct this issue,
     Suspend HP Direct Tape Access before printing. The Suspend feature
     is located on the Tape menu.

   * When you format a tape using a tape drive connected
     to your floppy controller, the floppy disk will be
     inaccessible.

   * Virus scanning software causes slow performance when overwriting
     files on your tape. To improve performance, disable virus scanning
     on the drive letter assigned to your tape drive.

   * HP Direct Tape Access uses partitions to store file
     system information. HP Direct Tape Access supports only
     Quick File Access (QFA) tape drives.

   * If you are running an older version of a backup program and
     experience problems using that program with HP Direct Tape Access loaded,
     contact your vendor for a solution.



   5.  System Requirements
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The system requirements for this product include:

   * IBM or 100%-compatible 386/DX or higher.
     8MB or more RAM.
     Windows 95, Windows 3.1, or Windows 3.11.
     MS-DOS 5.0 or higher (Windows 3.x only).
     A hard disk with at least 5 MB free.
     For SCSI tape drives, an installed, configured ASPI driver with
     both ASPI for DOS and ASPI for Windows loaded.
     A Microsoft or 100% compatible mouse is highly recommended.

   * If you upgrade your Windows operating system to Windows 95,
     you must install the Windows 95 version of this product.



   6.  Removing Your Direct Tape Software Program Files
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To remove your direct tape software program files:

1  Delete the DTFSLOAD.EXE line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT.
2  Delete the entire [PRELOAD] section in the WIN.INI.
3  Delete the DTFS= line from the [AddOns] section of
   the WINFILE.INI.
4  Delete the DTFS= line located under the [MMCPL] section
   in the CONTROL.INI.
5  Delete all files in the directory containing
   HP Direct Tape Access files.

   * If you are using Windows 3.X, remove all DEVICE= lines in
     your SYSTEM.INI file that reference DRVW*.VXD and delete
     all files named DRVW*.VXD in your \windows\system directory.

6  Reboot your system.

