Media Care Guide

Visual Inspection

When To Perform a Visual Inspection

•	Best practices: Each time a tape is loaded or changed.
•	When a tape cartridge is dropped or subjected to a hard physical shock.
•	When a shipment of tapes show any signs of shipping damage.
•	If the drive becomes inoperable after loading a tape.
•	If a drive error occurs, inspect the current and previous cartridge used in that drive.

Protective Case Inspection (All Media Types)

Case Inspect the protective case for cracks, chips, distortion, or other signs of damage.

How To Perform a Visual Inspection

•	Go through all inspection steps in Group 1, 2 and 3 (see following pages).
•	If issues are found in Group 1 only and no issues found in Groups 2 or 3 then use cartridge with caution.
•	Monitor software log for media degradation.
•	Consider copying the data onto a new cartridge and retiring the old cartridge.
•	If any issues are found in Group 2 or 3, then retire the media and use a different cartridge.

Performing a visual inspection

LTO Ultrium External Cartridge Inspection

	Cartridge Inspect the exterior of the cartridge for chips, cracks, dents or missing screws. Gently shake the cartridge, listening for rattles or loose pieces.
	Cartridge Hub/Reel Locks Confirm that the spring-loaded hub on the bottom of the cartridge is centered. Press the hub. It should spring back if operating properly. Operation of the reel locks may release the hub and re-center. Check that the reel locks are visible and out. The hub should not turn.
	Write Protection Switch Move the switch. It should be able to snap into write-protected mode and write-enabled mode.
	Cartridge Door Ensure the door is moveable and springs closed.

DLTtape and Super DLTtape External Cartridge Inspection

	Cartridge Inspect the exterior of the cartridge for chips, cracks, dents or missing screws. Gently shake the cartridge, listening for rattles or loose pieces.
	Cartridge Hub Confirm that the spring-loaded hub on the bottom of the cartridge is centered. Press the hub. It should spring back if operating properly. Operation of the reel locks may release the hub and re-center.
	Write Protection Switch Move the switch. It should be able to snap into write-protected mode and write-enabled mode.
	Reel Locks Check that both reel locks are visible. Verify operation using a small flat blade screwdriver. The reel locks should spring back when released.
	Cartridge Door Ensure the door is movable and that the spring is present.

DAT/DDS External Cartridge Inspection

	Cartridge Inspect the exterior of the cartridge for chips, cracks, dents or missing screws. Gently shake the cartridge, listening for loose pieces.
	Write Protection Tab Move the tab. It should be able to snap into write-protected mode and write-enabled mode.
	Cartridge Door Ensure the door is locked and closed.

Spotting a Damaged cartridge

DLTtape Leader Inspection

	Normal Normal leader.
	Tape Leader Missing Swallowed cartridge leader or broken tape.
	Broken Tape Leader Not always this obvious.
	Excessive Debris Stuck to tape leader and to tape.
Media Wrapped too Loosely Excessive slack apparent. (Note: OK to use cartridge if small amount of slack at the tape leader is present, but inspect cartridge again after use.)

Super DLTtape Leader Inspection

	Normal Normal leader.
	Toed-In Buckle Buckle ends clearly extend past edge of reel.
	Buckle Missing No buckle present.
	Buckle Bent One buckle end is bent and buckle is not symmetrical.
	Gap from Tape Leader Slack Tape Leader is clearly visible.
	Buckle Separated from Tape Leader Buckle has broken through tape leader on one side.
	Excessive Debris Stuck to tape.

LTO Ultrium Leader Inspection

	Normal Normal leader pin position.
	Tape Leader Missing Swallowed leader pin or broken tape.