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HP DDS DRIVES USER GUIDE
into the drive mechanism. A load sequence checks ambient
humidity, the tape format and data integrity. Unless the tape is
blank the tape log, which contains a history of usage of the tape,
is read into the drive’s memory.
The drive will automatically format a blank tape when data is
first written to it. Remember to allow time for the formatting
process when you use a new tape.
Removing a cassette
Before attempting to remove a cassette, ensure that the drive is
not currently in use (the amber Drive Busy indicator must be
unlit).
Press the
EJECT
button on the front of the drive (depending on
your operating environment, the
EJECT
button may be disabled
while the drive is in use). If the tape is write-enabled, a copy of
the tape log, held in the drive’s memory, is written back to tape.
The drive rewinds to the beginning of the tape, unthreads it,
and ejects the cassette. Several seconds may pass between the
button being pressed and the cassette being ejected, so be careful
not to turn off the computer before the operation is completed.
Write-protecting a cassette
A cassette can be write-protected by sliding the white tab on the
cassette so that the recess is revealed. In this position, data can
be read from the tape but not written to it.
The tape log, which includes a record of data integrity failures,
cannot be updated while the cassette is write-protected. It follows
that the tape log becomes inaccurate if a cassette is used while
write-protected, and the media warning LED status cannot be
relied upon to determine if the cassette needs to be copied and
replaced.
