Tape Drive Cleaning Process

Tape Drive Cleaning Process

The following sections describe the recommended process for cleaning your tape drive.

To ensure data integrity, it is important to clean your tape drive on a regular basis. The process of removing the accumulation of oxide and/or dirt from the erase/write/read head surface and transport system is important for trouble-free operation of your equipment.

The tools you need are lint-free, nonabrasive cloths or cotton swabs, 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol or Freon-TF, and mild soapy water.

Caution: Never clean any plastic or rubber component (for example, the tape guide) in the tape path with 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol. Doing so degrades the composition of the component.

If Freon-TF has been banned from use in your company, you can use the 90% isopropyl alcohol. However, you must wipe the alcohol residue off with a swab and water.

1/2-Inch Reel-to-Reel Cipher Tape Drive Cleaning Process
1/2-Inch Reel-to-Reel Kennedy Tape Drive Cleaning Process
8mm and 4mm Tape Drive Cleaning Process