Compaq Confidential – Need to Know Required
Writer: Debbie McRill Project: Compaq DAT Drive Reference Guide Comments:
Part Number: 155452-002 File Name: Chapter 4 Cleaning DAT Tape Drives.doc Last Saved On: 2/7/00 10:02 AM
Chapter
4
Cleaning the DAT Drive
Reliable backup of your system is the product of at least four components:
■
A reliable tape drive
■
Quality cassette
■
Regular backup schedule with backup media stored off-site
■
Routine tape drive maintenance
Compaq tape drives are designed to operate reliably under worst case
conditions; however, they require simple routine maintenance to operate
efficiently. Regular cleaning is the most essential step in properly maintaining
a tape drive and preventing errors.
Importance of Routine Cleaning
IMPORTANT:
Regular cleaning is vital to trouble-free operation of any
cassette device. Failure to follow recommended cleaning procedures could
result in serious damage to your tape drive.
Routine cleaning of a tape drive minimizes buildup on the read/write heads so
that fewer cleaning cycles are required. Compaq recommends a routine
cleaning after every 100 hours of use to keep the tape drive in good working
order. The drive will also need cleaning when the drive Status LED Indicator
( ) displays long flashes with short pauses (see Chapter 3, “Operating the
DAT Drive,” Table 3-2).
