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Chapter 4 Using the Media
Handling Cartridges
Handling or storing S-AIT cartridges incorrectly can damage them or their
tapes. Follow the guidelines below to avoid damaging your cartridges.
Handling precautions
• Before using cartridges, let them acclimate themselves to the normal
operating environment for at least 24 hours.
• Verify whether cartridges are damaged before using them.
• Verify whether foreign objects such as labels are affixed to the cartridges as
they may cause loading problems.
• Do not insert damaged cartridges into the S-AIT Tape Drive Unit. Damaged
cartridges can interfere with the reliability of the unit.
• Do not pull the leader block or the tape out of cartridges as this may damage
the cartridge braking mechanism and/or the tape.
• Do not handle the tape outside cartridges as this may damage the tape’s
surface or edges.
• Do not subject cartridges to strong vibrations.
• Do not drop cartridges. If you do, verify that the reel lock opening to make
sure that the small plastic tabs inside are still visible. If they are not, do not use
the cartridge. Inspect the cartridge for any obvious cracks or other physical
damage.
• Never open cartridge cases as this may expose the tape to contamination and
physical damage.
• Never affix labels elsewhere than on the repressed label area as doing so may
cause loading problems.
• The write-protect switch of cartridges is used to prevent writing to the tape by
accident. If you do not want to write to a cartridge, slide it to the write-protect
position. (For details, see “Setting the Write-protect Switch” on page 38.)
• If the S-AIT Tape Drive Unit is used in a high-humidity environment or a
location subject to wide variations in temperature, condensation may prevent
cartridge read/write operations.
• Remove cartridges from the unit when they are not used or before turning the
unit off.
• Dispose of used cartridges according to your local regulations on waste
disposal.
Storage precautions
• Store cartridges in an appropriate environment (see page 40 for details).
• Always place cartridges in their plastic cases as soon as possible when you are
not using them.
• Do not place cartridges on or near devices that may produce magnetic fields
such as computers or monitors as this may erase the data on the tape.
• Do not store cartridges in a high humidity environment, direct sunlight, close
to heat sources, dusty locations, or locations subject to intense vibrations.
• When placing cartridges in archival storage, make sure that you place them
vertically.
• When storing cartridges, we recommend that they are write-protected.
• Do not degauss the cartridge as degaussing may render the tape unusable.
