Dell TL2000 manual Provide Proper Acclimation and Environmental Conditions

vNever ship a cartridge in a commercial shipping envelope. Always place it in a box or package.

vIf you ship the cartridge in a cardboard box or a box of a sturdy material, ensure the following:

–Place the cartridge in polyethylene plastic wrap or bags to protect it from dust, moisture, and other contaminants.

–Pack the cartridge snugly; do not allow it to move around.

–Double-box the cartridge (place it inside a box, then place that box inside the shipping box) and add padding between the two boxes (see Figure 6-5).

Figure 6-5. Double-boxing tape cartridges for shipping

Provide Proper Acclimation and Environmental Conditions

vBefore you use a tape cartridge, acclimate it to the operating environment for 24 hours or the time necessary to prevent condensation in the drive (the time will vary, depending on the environmental extremes to which the cartridge was exposed).

vEnsure that all surfaces of a cartridge are dry before inserting it.

vDo not expose the cartridge to moisture or direct sunlight.

vDo not expose recorded or blank cartridges to stray magnetic fields of greater than 100 oersteds (for example, terminals, motors, video equipment, X-ray equipment, or fields that exist near high-current cables or power supplies). Such exposure can cause the loss of recorded data or make the blank cartridge unusable.

vMaintain the conditions that are described in “Environmental and Shipping Specifications for Tape Cartridges” on page 6-8.

Perform a Thorough Inspection

After purchasing a cartridge and before using it, perform the following steps:

vInspect the cartridge’s packaging to determine potential rough handling.

vWhen inspecting a cartridge, open only the cartridge door. Do not open any other part of the cartridge case. The upper and lower parts of the case are held together with screws; separating them destroys the usefulness of the cartridge.

vInspect the cartridge for damage before using or storing it.

Chapter 6. Using Ultrium Media 6-7