cleaning
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contents of this section
cleaning strategy cleaning cartridge
cleaning the tape heads on a drive
cleaning strategy
HP Surestore DLT1 drives have been developed to have a minimal cleaning requirement. The Caution LED on the tape drive will be on when the drive needs cleaning. However, it is good practice that the drive is cleaned once every two weeks to ensure optimal performance.
IMPORTANT: It is essential to use only DLT1 cleaning cartridges with HP Surestore DLT1 tape drives. Cleaning cartridges from other media manufacturers will not be accepted by the drive. Use of HP cleaning media will ensure your tape drive is fully protected.
cleaning cartridge
You must use only DLT1 cleaning cartridges to clean the tape heads. A cleaning cartridge is supplied with each tape drive.
Do not use swabs or other means of cleaning the heads. The cleaning cartridge uses a special tape to clean the tape heads.
A cleaning cartridge can be used up to 20 times. The cleaning cartridge includes a label with 20 small boxes printed on it. Always place a check mark in a box each time you use the cartridge to clean the drive. Replace the cleaning cartridge when all the boxes are checked.
Be aware that cleaning cartridges that do not specify DLT1 on the cartridge will be accepted by the drive but will not clean the drive. Use only DLT1 cleaning cartridges (see also Ordering Information).
cleaning the tape heads on a drive
The drive's TapeAlert feature sends a message to your backup application when the tape heads need cleaning and the Caution LED illuminates. To clean the tape heads:
1.Insert a DLT1 cleaning cartridge into the drive. The tape drive automatically loads the cartridge and cleans the heads.
Note: If you insert another type of cleaning cartridge, the Caution LED turns off. Ensure that cleaning is performed only with DLT1 cleaning cartridges.
During the cleaning cycle the Caution LED flashes. At the end of the cleaning cycle, the Caution LED turns off to indicate that you should remove the cleaning cartridge. The cleaning cycle can take several minutes.
2.Remove the cleaning cartridge from the drive.
If the Caution LED is illuminated when you insert a DLTtape cartridge immediately after cleaning, try a new DLTtape cartridge. If this condition persists with other cartridges, use HP Library and Tape Tools to help you diagnose the problem.