Quantum A-Series User Manual

Chapter 3  Using Your Tape Drive

A-Series Data Cartridges

Quantum A-Series Tape Drives User’s Guide

22

3

Observe the following precautions to protect your data:

• Remove the cartridge from the drive when not in use 

and store it in its protective case.

• Avoid dropping the cartridge. This can damage 

components inside the cartridge, possibly rendering 

the tape unusable. If you drop a tape cartridge, open 

the cartridge door and make sure that the leader pin 

is in the correct position.

• Re-tension a dropped cartridge before using.
• Keep the cartridge away from:

• Direct sunlight and heat sources, such as 

radiators, heaters, or warm air ducts.

• Sources of electromagnetic fields, such as 

telephones, computer monitors, dictation 

equipment, mechanical or printing calculators, 

motors, magnetic tools, and bulk erasers.

• Expose the cartridge to dirt, dust or moisture.
• Touch the tape media within the cartridge.
• Bulk erase Ultrium tape cartridges. LTO tape 

cartridges have prewritten servo patterns that 

cannot be reformatted by the tape drive. A bulk 

erase operation would make them unusable.

• Use tape cartridges outside the specified operating 

conditions: 10

o

 C to 40

o

 C, 20% to 80% relative 

humidity.
If a tape cartridge has been exposed to conditions 

outside the specified range, recondition the tape 

before using in the operating environment by 

exposing it to the operating environment for a time 

equal to or greater than the time it was outside the 

operating environment, up to a maximum of 24 

hours. Then re-tension the tape to stabilize the tape 

pack for better performance.