Caring for Data Cartridges
Caring for Data Cartridges
To maximize the shelf life of your tapes and assure data integrity, follow these guidelines when storing data cartridges:
•Place a label or other reference information on the cartridge adjacent to the
•Keep cartridges in their protective boxes when not in use.
•Do not open the cartridge’s access door or touch the tape.
•Store cartridges in a cool,
•Keep the storage location as free of airborne particulates as possible. To eliminate obvious sources of particulates, do not permit anyone to smoke, eat, or drink near the storage area, and do not store cartridges near a copier or printer that may emit toner and paper dust.
•Store data cartridges as soon as possible after you have written data to them. Immediate storage helps avoid many of the conditions that can damage tapes, such as temperature and humidity fluctuation, particulate contamination, and excessive handling.
•Store data cartridges with the
•Store each cartridge on one of its long edges, not flat on its side. When a data cartridge is stored on its side, the tape inside the cartridge is actually on its edge. In this position, stress is placed on the tape edges and can lead to tape damage. For the same reason, never stack cartridges on top of each other or lean them at an angle for extended periods of time.
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