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 Stiction
and water damage.
Data recovery from "stiction" tapes.
The expression "stiction" was first coined
in the late 70's and early 80's when the introduction
of high speed tape drives and the tapes in use at the
time started to produce read problems. The combination
of the higher tape speeds, harder head materials and
tape binder formulations would make the tapes actually
"stick" to the read-write heads.
Adjustments were made to the tape binder formulations
and the problems were thought to of been solved. Unfortunately
the tapes produced during this period are now showing
signs of "stiction". This is the result of
"hydrolysis" in the urethane-based binder
used on the tape surface. This hydrolysis is caused
by the reaction of the binder to the moisture in the
air and results in "sticky" tapes. Storage
in poor conditions with high humidity and temperatures
will accelerate the process.
If an attempt to read a "stiction" tape is
made, the normal operational friction on the head surface
will cause the loose particles produced by the hydrolysis
to be deposited on the read-write heads. When the tape
drive stops these deposits cool and the tape "sticks"
to the read-write head. Continued reading of such a
tape will result in major tape damage.
Fortunately the data is recoverable. Operational recovery
staff have a long history of recovering data from stiction
tapes. The deterioration of the tapes affected can be
halted and temporarily suspended by drying out the tapes
in special control chambers. The data can then be copied
to a media of your choice (data type allowing).
Tape Copying, Track, 3480, 3490E, 3590, 4 & 8mm, CD-R,
DLT
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Considerable
experience in loading to LandMark, GeoQuest IESX and
Charisma. A number of tools and techniques have been
developed to ensure that the process is performed quickly
and correctly.