Half height drive: Tape spooled off supply reel

Before you begin

Attention: DO NOT TOUCH THE OUTER GUIDE RAIL (2). THIS RAIL IS DELICATE AND EASILY DAMAGED.

About this task

Note: If the cartridge in the drive is an INPUT tape that contains ACTIVE or 'ONLY COPY' data (there is no backup), eject commands that are issued at the host fail to unload the tape, and power-cycling the drive fails to eject the cartridge, make no further attempts to unload this tape. Call Technical Support and open a PMR if one is not already open, to initiate the process of sending the drive with the loaded cartridge in for recovery.

Procedure

  1. From the takeup reel, pull an arm's length of tape around the rear of the tape path and over the head and rollers on the left side of the drive.
  2. Set the drive on its left side with the head and tape path facing up.
  3. Ensure that the tape is not twisted. Untwist the tape if required.
  4. Moisten a cotton swab with water and wet approximately 13 mm (0.5 in.) of the tape end and feed it onto the supply reel (inside the cartridge).
  5. Turn the supply reel (4) clockwise, allowing the moistened tape to adhere to the hub as it winds around the supply reel (inside the cartridge).
    Figure 1. Rewinding tape into cartridge

    Rewinding tape into cartridge

    1 Loader motor worm gear 3 Takeup reel motor
    2 Outer guide rail (WARNING: Do Not Touch) 4 Supply reel motor
  6. Continue spooling into the cartridge until the tape is taut and remains within the flanges of the tape guiding rollers. Turn the supply reel (4) 10 more turns. Ensure that you do not stretch the tape.
  7. Go to Ending procedure.