Symptom:
A magazine will not eject from an HP DDS2* Autochanger tape drive.

Cause:
An internal hardware malfunction has occurred, not allowing the magazine to eject properly. The most common causes are;

• simple gear or motor jam
• labels on top of tape catching inside the drive
• warped magazine
• bad power supply

Solution:
The most simple solution is to perform a "force eject." To perform a force eject, simply press the eject button and hold it in for 55+ seconds. The words "Force Eject" should appear on the tape drive's LCD screen, and the magazine should eject. Sometimes it is necessary to power off the StorageExpress™ system for 20 seconds before the force eject will work. If the standard force eject does not work, you may want to follow the steps below.

NOTE: Always take the necessary precautions to prevent Electro-Static Damage to the equipment. What you can't see can severely damage your equipment.

1. Gracefully power down the StorageExpress system either through Central Console or the system console.

   Central Console 1.60+

   1. From the Central Console Main Menu, click on [Utilities].
   2. Click on [Reboot or Shutdown].
   3. Choose "Shut Down then Reboot into Maintenance Mode."
   4. Click on [Shut Down].
   5. Go to the StorageExpress system.

   StorageExpress system 2.0 with ARCserve* for NetWare* 6

   1. Access the System Console of the StorageExpress system using a monitor and keyboard.
   2. At the System Console, type 'astop6' and press [Enter].
   3. Type 'down' and press [Enter].
   4. Type 'exit' and [Enter]. NetWare will unload and a DOS prompt will appear.
   5. At the DOS prompt, type 'setboot auto 1' and press [Enter].

   Power off the StorageExpress™ system when the main LCD panel displays the Maintenance Mode Menu.

2. Force Eject During Power Up
   1. Remove the cover from the unit containing the HP DDS2 Autochanger.
   2. Remove the SCSI ribbon from the back of the Autochanger. DO NOT remove the two power connectors.
   3. Press and hold the eject button in while powering up the StorageExpress system. Continue to hold the eject button for 55+ seconds while the StorageExpress system boots into Maintenance Mode.
   4. If the magazine ejects, you're done! Simply return everything to its original location and reconnect the necessary components.
   5. If the magazine does not eject on the first try, simply power the StorageExpress system off for at least 20 seconds and repeat this step. If the magazine still does not eject, power the StorageExpress system off and go to step 3.

3. Drop and Spin
   1. Remove the HP DDS2 Autochanger from the unit it is contained in.
   2. Set the tape drive on a flat hard surface (countertop).
   3. Lift the front of the tape drive about two Centimeters (3/4 inch) using your thumb and forefinger.
   4. Drop the drive. Yes, drop it. At two Centimeters the drive is receiving enough impact to loosen a jam but not enough impact to damage the drive.

      

   5. Holding the tape drive at it's base with one hand, slowly turn the carousel (shiny gear thing on top) clockwise or counter-clockwise about ninety degrees with your other hand.

      DO NOT FORCE the gear one way or the other. If the carousel does not appear to want to move one way, try another. If you cannot turn the gear a full ninety degrees, don't worry, just a little will do. It is possible that the carousel will not turn at all.

      

      
      
      

   6. Rotate the carousel back to its original position.

      

   7. Place the tape drive back in your StorageExpress™ system. Don't fasten everything yet. Reconnect the two power connectors. Retry the "Force Eject During Power Up" process as described in step 2 of this document.
   8. If the magazine ejects, you're done! Simply return everything to its original location and reconnect the necessary components.
   9. If the magazine still does not eject, you may need to replace the drive. If you still need to remove the magazine from the tape drive, proceed to step 4.
      
      
   10. Manual Removal of the Magazine
       Note: A Torx 8 screwdriver is necessary to complete the following steps.
       
       
       1. Place the tape drive upside down on a counter.

          

       2. Using the Torx 8 screwdriver, remove the 2 screws from the back of the tape drive as shown.

          

       3. Using your thumbs and forefingers, gently push the drive up about one centimeter.

          

       4. Remove the retaining bracket through the gaps on either side of the drive.

          

       5. Continue to gently but firmly push the drive up as shown.

          

       6. When the drive is tilted almost all of the way up, the magazine should be visible.

          

       7. Carefully pull the magazine out of the changer bay.

          

       8. Once the magazine is removed, the re-assembly of the drive is the reverse of the disassembly.
          

This applies to:

StorageExpress™ Systems