IBM TS4300 3555, User Manual

Page: 195 / 262

• Ensure that all surfaces of a cartridge are dry before it is inserted.
• Do not expose data cartridges to direct sunlight or sources of heat, including portable heaters and
heating ducts.
• Do not place data cartridges near sources of electromagnetic energy or strong magnetic fields such as
computer monitors, electric motors, speakers, or X-ray equipment. Exposure to electromagnetic energy
or magnetic fields can destroy data and the embedded servo code that is written on the media by the
cartridge manufacturer, which can render the cartridge unusable.
• Use only the data cartridges that are designated for your device.
• Clean the tape drive when the Clean drive LED is illuminated.
• Do not drop a cartridge. Excessive shock can damage the internal contents of the cartridge or the
cartridge case itself, making the cartridge unusable.
• Place identification labels only in the designated area on the cartridge.
• Maintain the conditions that are described in “Environmental and shipping specifications for tape
cartridges” on page 171.
Attention: Do not degauss LTO data cartridges! These data cartridges are pre-recorded with a
magnetic servo signal. This signal is required to use the cartridge with the LTO tape drive. Keep
magnetically charged objects away from the cartridge.
Completing a thorough inspection
After a cartridge is purchased and before it is used, complete the following steps.
• Inspect the cartridge's packaging to determine potential rough handling.
• When a cartridge is inspected, open only the cartridge door. Do not open any other part of the cartridge
case. The upper and lower parts of the case are held together with screws; separating them impairs the
usefulness of the cartridge.
• Inspect the cartridge for damage before it is used or stored.
• Inspect the rear of the cartridge (the part that loads first into the tape load compartment) and ensure
that no gaps appear in the seam of the cartridge case. See 1 in Figure 92 on page 165 and 4 in Figure
94 on page 167. If gaps appear in the seam (see Figure 92 on page 165), the leader pin might be
dislodged. Go to “Repositioning or reattaching a leader pin” on page 166.
Figure 92. Checking for gaps in the seams of a cartridge
• Check that the leader pin is properly seated. See 2 in Figure 93 on page 167.
Appendix B. LTO media 165