Dell LTO-4-120 LTO Media Handbook - Page 23

Perform a Thorough Inspection • Inspect the cartridge packaging to check for any rough handling. • When inspecting a cartridge, 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 destroys the usefulness of the cartridge. While the door is open, check that the leader pin is properly seated. If the cartridge has been dropped, it is likely that the pin is dislodged inside the cartridge. It is recommended that you open the door and check if the pin is properly seated before each use. See Figure 1-4. • Inspect the cartridge for damage before using or storing it. • Inspect the back of the cartridge (the part that you load first into the tape load compartment) and ensure that there are no gaps in the seam of the cartridge case. If there are gaps in the seam, the leader pin may be dislodged. See Figure 1-5. • If you suspect that the cartridge has been mishandled but it appears usable, copy any data onto a good cartridge immediately for possible data recovery. Discard the mishandled cartridge. Handle the Cartridge Carefully • Do not drop the cartridge. If the cartridge drops, slide the cartridge door back and ensure that the leader pin is properly seated in the pin-retaining spring clips. • Do not handle tape that is outside the cartridge. Handling the tape can damage the tape surface or edges, which may interfere with the read or write reliability. Pulling on tape that is outside the cartridge can damage the tape and the brake mechanism in the cartridge. • Do not stack more than six cartridges. • Do not degauss a cartridge that you intend to reuse. Degaussing renders the tape unusable. Figure 1-4 displays a dropped tape which resulted in a dislodged leader pin. This cartridge if inserted into a drive could result in a stuck tape. Other damage could result in the leader pin falling out of the cartridge or getting dropped inside the tape housing. LTO Media Handbook 23