The drive has three indicator lights that show its status.
• Orange light (Write Protected): A steady light means the cartridge is write-
protected.
• Yellow light (Tape in Use): A steady light means the tape is loaded. A
blinking light means the tape is in motion.
• Green light (Operate Handle): A steady light means you can move the handle
to insert or remove a cartridge. A blinking light means a cartridge load fault.
You can move the handle when the light is blinking.
All three lights blinking simultaneously indicates a fault condition.
Orange Light
Yellow Light
Green Light
Unload Button
MLO-002292
Handle
To operate the drive properly, you must carefully monitor the indicator lights.
Instructions for inserting and removing cartridges, which appear later in this
section, tell you what should happen at each step. Tables at the end of this
section summarize light and control combinations.
3.1.3.1 Operation of the Drive
The TK70 tape drive operates like a reel-to-reel tape deck. Inside the drive is
a take-up reel with a leader attached. Inside the cartridge is a reel containing
the magnetic tape and a leader. After you insert the cartridge and push in the
handle, the leader in the drive automatically couples with the leader in the
cartridge and the tape winds onto the take-up reel. The coupling and winding
process is called loading. When loading is complete, the tape is ready to use.
Operating the System Options 3–25
