Faq

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of files can I work with?
Can I send you a sample tape or a cartridge to convert?
What are refurbished drives?
What do I need to get started?
What kind of warranty do you have?
I'm not sure which package is best for me. Can you help?
Do you offer tech support?
What operating systems does your software run under?
What's the difference between Pertec and SCSI interfaces?
What's the difference between single-ended and differential SCSI?
How soon can you ship?
Do you service the equipment you sell?
Do you accept credit cards?

What kind of files can I work with?

Our software excels in reading in data files containing fixed length records. Almost all data on magnetic tape is in a fixed length record format. Call us if you need to read in variable length records.

Can I send you a sample tape or a cartridge to convert?

Yes, you may send us a sample to convert. We will convert the data and return it to you with the original on a diskette. If the file is large, we'll convert a sample of the data at the beginning. Don't forget to include your name, address and phone number in the package.

What are refurbished drives?

All the drives we sell are refurbished drives. We refurbish drives we usually get from mainframe companies who are going out of business or replacing equipment.

Refurbishing usually includes but is not limited to:

cleaning the drives and replacing or repairing any worn or damaged parts.
checking head alignment and read/write compatibility to ensure that the drive meets factory specifications for data transfer.
refinishing parts.
checking and changing drive configuration and firmware levels.
checking to ensure the drive meets factory specs for general operation.
putting the drives through an exhaustive burn-in process to help uncover any problems.

Refurbished drives are sold at a fraction of the original price ranging from 10% to 45%.

What do I need to get started?

Our complete packages come with a drive, controller card (Pertec or SCSI depending on the drive), software, a comprehensive manual, all necessary cables, and FREE TECH SUPPORT.

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What kind of warranty do you have?

Our 9 track drives come with a 12 month warranty. Our cartridge drives come with a 12 month warranty. A one year warranty extension is available for $100 for 9-track drives. Ask about cartridge drive warranty extensions.

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I'm not sure which package is best for me. Can you help?

Yes. The Fujitsu cartridge drives in particular, have quite a few options. Please call use to discuss your needs with us. We want you to get a package that suits you.

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Do you offer tech support?

Yes. You get FREE tech support when you buy from us. Unlike other companies who just sell drives or other company's software, we sell complete packages that include tech support. Remember, we have been selling tape drive packages for the PC since 1985. We use the software and drives daily. You can count on our years of experience if you have a question or a problem.

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What operating systems does your software run under?

We offer two software options: ElectroValue command line software for Windows 95/98/ME and NovaXchange software for Windows 2000/XP and Win95/98/ME by Novastor. We wrote our ElectroValue brand software and Novastor (a third party) wrote NovaXchange.

Our Pertec interface ElectroValue software runs under Dos, Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition (ME). Our SCSI interface ElectroValue brand software runs under Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition ( ME) .

Note that our ElectroValue brand software does NOT run under Windows NT, or Windows 2000. Our software is command line based and does not support long file names.

Are you running WinNT or Windows 2000? You can install Win95/98/ME on a workstation with your tape drive and Electrovalue software and connect to a network running WinNT or Windows 2000. Because the drives transfer data quickly from the hard disk, the drive should go on a workstation. A drive installed on a server would slow down your system. Or you could use NovaXchange software on the workstation and run Windows 2000/XP.

All versions of our ElectroValue software feature the same easy-to-use command line interface.

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What's the difference between Pertec and SCSI interfaces?

Tape drives come with several standard interfaces. In the mainframe world one of these popular interfaces is a Pertec interface. To use these drives with a PC requires a Pertec controller card (plugs into an ISA slot in your PC) and software for the card. We sell Pertec controller cards and software.

Another popular drive interface is SCSI. A single-ended SCSI interface drive can be used on most PC's with the addition of a standard SCSI adapter card and tape drive software. Differential SCSI drives are popular in the minicomputer world and the PC world too if you need a long cable run between your drive and PC. We sell our software in a Pertec version and a SCSI version. The SCSI version is more versatile. You can use our SCSI software with 9 track drives and many 3480, 3490, and 3490e cartridge machines.

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What's the difference between single-ended and differential SCSI?

A single- ended SCSI interface drive can be used on most PC's with the addition of a standard SCSI adapter card and tape drive software. Differential SCSI drives are popular in the minicomputer world. The differential SCSI interface is more resistant to electrical noise and allows a greater length between the drive and the host computer. We also sell drives with a differential SCSI interface. A single-ended drive needs a single-ended SCSI controller card. A differential drive needs a differential SCSI controller card. We sell single ended and differential controller cards. Call us to discuss this option.

We sell our software in a SCSI version too. The SCSI version is more versatile than the Pertec version. You can use our SCSI software with 9 track drives and many 3480, 3490, and 3490e cartridge machines.