MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC APRICOT 340 - Manual (Page 50)

U s i n g F l o p p y D i s k , C D - R O M & T a p e D r i v e s
APRICOT 340 OWNER’S HANDBOOK 4/7
Keep tape cartridges well away from magnetic objects, and
equipment that generates magnetic fields (for example, your
computer’s monitor). Avoid extremes of temperature and exposure to
direct sunlight; otherwise, the data recorded on the tape may
become corrupted.
Cleaning the drive
You should clean the read/write head and the capstan of the drive
frequently to prevent the accumulation of dust and metallic particles.
If you notice read or write errors, or many bad blocks when using
the drive, be sure to clean the head and capstan thoroughly before
concluding that the drive or your tapes are defective.
Although it is possible to use special kits to clean the drive, we
recommend the use of 90% isopropyl alcohol and several non-
abrasive, lint free swabs, as follows:
1. Turn off the system unit and unplug all power cords.
2. The read/write head and the capstan are accessible through
the flip-up drive door.
3. Gently rub an alcohol-dampened swab against the surface of
the read/write head using a side-to-side motion. If the swab
becomes too discoloured, use additional swabs until there is no
further discoloration.
4. Rub another, unused, alcohol-dampened swab against the
surface of the capstan using an up-and-down motion. Gently
rotate the capstan and continue rubbing until the entire surface
is clean.
5. Wait for at least three minutes before using the tape drive. This
allows any residual alcohol to evaporate.