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DLT Tape Drive
- Thread starter ohuett
- Start date
CitrixEngineer
Technical User
Yes - it's possible that by overcleaning you can damage the sensitive read/write heads. Cleaning should only be done every 30 - 40 cycles (once a month, if you back up every night).
"Dry" cleaning tapes are abrasive, but only cause a little more wear than a normal tape cartridge. "Wet" cleaning tapes are non-abrasive, but can leave behind oxide that has built up into a thick deposit.
I clean my tape drives about twice a year using cotton-buds and ethyl-alcohol. This way you can give the heads and capstan wheels a thorough clean. The important point here is not to let any of the cotton become entangled with the workings of the tape device - especially with DATs.
Remember that tape heads wear over time anyway because of the frictional method of their operation.
I hope this helps
"Dry" cleaning tapes are abrasive, but only cause a little more wear than a normal tape cartridge. "Wet" cleaning tapes are non-abrasive, but can leave behind oxide that has built up into a thick deposit.
I clean my tape drives about twice a year using cotton-buds and ethyl-alcohol. This way you can give the heads and capstan wheels a thorough clean. The important point here is not to let any of the cotton become entangled with the workings of the tape device - especially with DATs.
Remember that tape heads wear over time anyway because of the frictional method of their operation.
I hope this helps
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