Check out the Frequently Asked Questions to take advantage of out expert troubleshooting, get the latest updates, and learn about tips for using your Imation products. For more information, including brochures, demos, and spec sheets, visit the SLR Technology product page.

How do I clean the heads in my large data cartridge or SLR/MLR tape drive? How often?

The tape in my data cartridge is broken. What do I do?

I am getting an error message saying my tape cartridge is write protected or locked. What does that mean? How can I change it so I can write to the tape?

If you have additional questions or comments, please contact our Technical Support.

How do I clean the heads in my large data cartridge or SLR/MLR tape drive? How often?

To avoid potential warranty issues with the drive manufacturer, it is very important to follow the drive manufacturer's cleaning recommendations. Unfortunately, there are significant differences in recommendations between manufacturers and within each manufacturer's product lines. The information below provides a general guideline, but you should always follow the cleaning instructions in your owner's manual.

5 ¼" Cartridge drives
Drives which use 5 ¼ inch form factor cartridges with capacities of 5GB or less, such as the DC300 or DC6150, should be cleaned with the Imation 51111-43032 DC6000 wet process cleaning kit. The kit will not fit into older, side-loading drives where the narrow edge of the cartridge is inserted into the drive first.

SLR/MLR drives
Higher capacity MLR and SLR drives should be cleaned with the Imation 51122-12094 SLR/MLR dry process head cleaning cartridge.

Drives operated or stored in a normal, reasonably clean, office environment should be cleaned once a month. Drives operated or stored in less than optimum environments should be cleaned more frequently.

The tape in my data cartridge is broken. What do I do?

Your tape has probably run off of one of the spools. Unlike audio or video cartridges, the tape in a data cartridge is not attached to either spool because a drive malfunction could cause the tape to stretch, which might result in loss of data.

All data cartridge tapes have a series of holes punched through the tape a few feet from each end. A sensor in the drive is constantly looking for the holes. When the drive sees the holes, the pattern of the holes tells the drive which end of the tape is approaching and, in some cases, what cartridge type is being used.

When the tape runs off of one of the spools, it is because the drive either failed to see the holes or misinterpreted the hole pattern. It is a drive issue, not a cartridge issue. In most cases the data, as it existed just prior to running off of the spool, is undamaged.

The most frequent causes of the tape running off of a spool are dust or debris in the drive and random static discharge. Some drive types exhibit this problem more often than others.

Despooled tape cartridges can be rethreaded. This operation requires great care to put the tape back in the proper path while avoiding the loss of parts or further damage to the tape.

For further information, in the US please call 1.800.351.8186 and select option 1. Outside the US, please call your local Imation representative.

I am getting an error message saying my tape cartridge is write protected or locked. What does that mean? How can I change it so I can write to the tape?

Write protection allows the cartridge to be read, but not accidentally changed without actively taking a step to unlock it. If you receive a write protected or locked error message and want to allow data on the cartridge to be altered, the tab position must be changed. Unlock is accomplished by moving the write protect tab from the locked position to the unlocked position. In order to write to a cartridge the tab must be in the unlocked position.


To unlock the cartridge, use the following tips for the cartridge you are using:

• Travan Cartridges - Look for the red arrow slide that points to a padlock symbol identifying locked or unlocked and position it appropriately.
• Mini-cartridges - Look for a slide, often grey, that should be positioned all the way to the left to allow backups.
• 5.25" Cartridges (now known as MLR or SLR) - Look for a small circular button on the top left surface of the tape. This circular button has a subtle arrow that points. This can be turned to point to locked or unlocked padlock symbols. Some cartridges have write protected identified as 'Safe.' Use a pointed object to change as needed, e.g. a paper clip.
• 4mm Data Tapes (also known as DDS or DAT 72 tapes) - Look for the write protect slider on the lower edge which should be closed to allow backups.
• 8mm Data Tapes (also known as D8 and Mammoth tapes) - Look for the sliding tab, often red, on the lower edge. A red tab indicates that the cartridge is read only. This should not be full red to allow backups. Some but not all 8mm tapes also have arrows reflecting the correct position identified as "Record" and "Save," or "Erase on" and "Erase off."<
• 8mm AIT tapes - Look for the sliding tab, often orange. This slider should be moved to the lower position (marked "REC") to allow backup.