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Chapter 2: Operating the Tape Drive
Note: The EXATAPE 160-m XL data cartridges contain a recognition system
stripe located on the tape leader for media identification. The 8505XL uses
this stripe to distinguish data-quality metal-particle media, such as
EXATAPE, from other 160-m media.
To maintain data integrity, the 8505XL automatically ejects 160-m data
cartridges or equivalent length video cartridges that are not equipped with
the recognition system stripe.
Write-Protecting a Data Cartridge
Before loading a data cartridge in the tape drive, make sure that the
write-protect switch on the cartridge is set correctly for the desired operation
(see Figure 1-6 in Chapter 1). You can use a ball-point pen or similar
instrument to set the write-protect switch, as shown.
Loading a Data Cartridge
To load a data cartridge into the tape drive, follow these steps:
1. Make sure that the write-protect switch has been set correctly for the
desired operation, as explained on “Write-Protecting a Data Cartridge”
on page 20.
2. If you have just turned on your system, be sure that the bottom and top
LEDs are off, indicating that the tape drive has passed its power-on
self-test and is ready to load the data cartridge.
3. Gently push the data cartridge into the tape drive (see Figure 1-7 in
Chapter 1) until the load mechanism pulls the data cartridge into the
tape drive.