HP minicarts found

[Christian Corti]

On Wed, 14 Feb 2007, Richard wrote:
> In article <1e1fc3e90702141038g69d8f79ne2f9de7dc2166f89 at mail.gmail.com>,
>    "Glen Slick" <glen.slick at gmail.com>  writes:
>> Even if someone was desperate for any of those tapes, what are the
>> chances they would still be readable at this point and there wouldn't
>> be spots where the oxide has flaked off?

The chances are very good because HP used good tapes (I know of 
experience). I was able to rescue every HP tape I have.

> It would probably be best to go through a bake cycle, that's for sure.

No! Don't bake them (it's unnecessary anyway because the tape itself 
doesn't stick). BUT: You need to unstick the belt from the tape. Open the 
cartridge and slightly heat the belt until it is black again (sticky belts 
mostly have a white coating that will vanish when heated). I put these 
tapes under a desk lamp with a distance of about 20cm (depends on the 
power of the light bulb) and then wait a couple of minutes while watching 
the tape.
In my experience the biggest problem is the belt. Many of these belts will 
tear after some time, and finding a replacement belt is difficult. I don't 
know (haven't tried yet) if a belt from a DC2120 (QIC80) or similar 
cartridge (those cartridges are easy to find today) can be used.

Christian