In Imation Travan or Imation SLR Technology, the tape in the data cartridge is not physically attached to the hubs or spools in any way, unlike the tape in audio or videocassettes. Data cartridge tapes are held in place by a number of wraps of tape, providing tension after the beginning of tape and before the end of tape; this design prevents damage to the cartridge and/or drive if a malfunction occurs.

The tape has a pattern of holes punched a few feet from each end of the tape. A light sensor in the drive watches for the holes, and the pattern of holes tells the drive when either end of the tape is approaching. The tape drive and software stop the motion of tape when these signals are received.

When the tape disappears from the door area, it is generally because the drive has failed to perceive the holes in the tape, or has misinterpreted them. This is actually a drive issue, not a cartridge issue, and some drives exhibit this problem more than others do. In most cases the recorded data is intact, and the "tape off" should not affect the data.

Despooled tape cartridges can be re-attached to allow the data to be copied to another cartridge. This operation requires great care to put the tape back in the proper path while avoiding misalignment, or loss of internal parts, or further damage to the tape.

Additional causes of a tape off condition can be dust or debris in the drive optical sensor path, a random static discharge, or software glitches.

Imation does not provide data recovery or cartridge repair services but recommends that customers needing either contact their media hardware vendor or a data recovery service company for assistance.

The rare occurrence of a broken tape generally happens due to a tape pack becoming unstable and throwing a loop within the cartridge, potentially causing the cartridge to jam. The term "thrown loop" is used when the cartridge has failed to wind itself correctly, resulting in an unstable tape pack (usually due to mishandling of the cartridge or extreme environmental changes where the recommended acclimation or retension did not occur). A thrown loop condition will typically damage several feet of tape, and on occasion, actually cause the tape to break.

Causes of unstable tape packs include:

• repeated usage over the same short length of tape, creating instability at the turn around point
• very high acceleration and or deceleration cycles
• low belt tension due to exposure to elevated temperatures /li>
• the cartridge is at or beyond its life expectancy
• the cartridge has been handled roughly or dropped
• the tape drive malfunctions

Imation's warranty is voided if the data cartridge is opened. Imation does not provide data recovery or cartridge repair services but recommends that customers needing either contact their media hardware vendor or a data recovery service company for assistance..