HP Refurbished Tape Drives

We stock refurbished HP tape drives for LTO backup and archiving, including drives for HPE StoreEver and MSL tape libraries. The range covers internal, external, and library-mounted drives in SAS and Fibre Channel, across several LTO generations. Whether you're replacing a failed drive in an existing library, expanding a tape backup setup, or keeping an end-of-life system running, we can help. If you need a model that isn't listed, our team can often source it.

 

Every refurbished drive is inspected and tested before shipping under our ISO 9001-certified quality management system. Orders ship from our warehouse in Denmark — with express delivery, your order will be delivered within 1–2 working days.

 

  • Save up to 80% versus buying new
  • Inspected and tested under our ISO 9001-certified quality management system
  • 1-year warranty included
  • LTO tape drives for HPE StoreEver and MSL libraries

Refurbished HPE LTO Tape Drives

HPE sells its LTO drives under the StoreEver name, in internal, external desktop, and library-mounted forms. Library drives are built to slot into an MSL chassis and won't work as standalone units, so check which form you need before ordering. Drives come in half-height and full-height versions, and a full-height drive needs two slots in a library. Interface matters too: SAS is the common choice for direct server attachment, while Fibre Channel is used where the library sits on a SAN.

 

Drives and Parts for HPE MSL Tape Libraries

The MSL family covers autoloaders and rack-mounted libraries for automated backup, and many of these systems stay in service well past their end-of-support date. We stock refurbished drives and parts for MSL libraries, so you can replace a failed drive or add a second one for throughput without replacing the chassis. When adding a drive to an existing library, match the LTO generation and interface to the drive already installed, since mixed generations in one library complicate backup software configuration.

 

LTO Generation Compatibility

The LTO generation decides which cartridges a drive can use. Up to LTO-7, drives read two generations back and write one generation back. From LTO-8 onward, drives read and write only one generation back, so an LTO-8 drive can't read LTO-6 cartridges. If you need to restore from older tapes, keep a drive of the right generation in service rather than assuming a newer drive will read them.

 

HPE Tape Drive Part Numbers

HPE tape drives carry -001 spare part numbers, alongside option numbers in letter formats such as AJ830A, and SB-suffixed numbers on some library-mounted drives. Matching the part number from your existing drive is the most reliable way to confirm a replacement, particularly for library drives where the sled and chassis must match. Search by part number in our Parts Finder, or contact our team with your library model.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a library drive as a standalone tape drive? No. Library-mounted drives are built to slot into an MSL chassis. For standalone use you need an internal or external desktop drive.

 

Will a newer LTO drive read my existing tapes? Up to LTO-7, drives read two generations back. From LTO-8 onward, drives read and write only one generation back, so check the generation before replacing a drive you still restore from.

 

Can I mix LTO generations in one MSL library? It's technically possible in some libraries, but it complicates media handling and backup software configuration. Matching the generation of the drive already installed is the safer approach.

 

How much can I save with a refurbished HP tape drive? Up to 80% versus buying new, depending on the LTO generation, form factor, and interface.

 

What's the warranty on a refurbished HP tape drive? Every refurbished HP tape drive comes with a 1-year warranty.