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The time required for a tape to rewind and unload is between 18 seconds and 3
minutes, depending on the position of the tape when the unload button is pushed.
If the tape cartridge cannot unload and has to be removed manually from the drive,
contact your service representative.
Cleaning the Tape Path on the 5.0GB 8-mm Tape Drive
Attention: Do not use video cleaning cartridges in the 8-mm tape drive. Video
cleaning cartridges can damage the 8-mm tape drive.
The 8-mm tape path should be cleaned either approximately every 30 hours of tape
motion or once a month, whichever occurs first. The 5.0GB 8-mm tape drive counts
the number of hours of tape motion and indicates when the tape path requires
cleaning when the lighted disturbance status light (amber) is on.
More frequent cleaning may be required if the drive is operated in a dusty
environment or in humid conditions. If the dust is allowed to accumulate, the drive
has to perform more reads and writes. This can cause data loss, and may be
prevented by regularly scheduled cleaning of the drive.
The cleaning cartridge cleans the 8-mm tape drive. If you attempt to use an 8-mm
cleaning cartridge more times than allowed, the tape drive automatically detects the
error and ejects the cleaning cartridge. The disturbance status light (amber) remains
on if it was on prior to the cleaning operation being attempted.
Some video cleaning cartridges are extremely abrasive. An 8-mm tape drive may be
permanently damaged after only a few cleaning operations using an abrasive-type
cleaning cartridge.
Before loading the cleaning cartridge, make sure the power to the 8-mm tape drive is
on.
To load the 8-mm cleaning cartridge, do the following:
1. Grasp the edges of the 8-mm cleaning cartridge with the window side of the
cartridge facing to the right.
2. Slide the cleaning cartridge into the opening on the front of the 8-mm tape drive
until the loading mechanism pulls the cartridge into the drive.
Chapter 2. Using the System Unit 2-29