Owner`s manual

Page 3-6 Chapter Three

Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01

¼" Tape Drive Read/Write Compatibility

Streaming tape drives use many different data formats. The tape drives for your computer can read (R)

and write (W) the following formats:

QIC-11 QIC-24 QIC-120 QIC-150 QIC-320 QIC-1000 QIC-2GB

AM-625 R - R - R - R W - - - - - -

AM-626 - - R - R - R W R W - - - -

AM-627 - - R - R - R W R W R W - -

AM-628 - - R - R - R W R W R W R W

AM-629 - - R - R - R W R W R W R W

AM-650 - - - - - - R W R W R W R W

The AM-629 also supports QIC-9634 and 9634C with 4GB tapes; the AM-650 also supports QIC-5010

and QIC 5010C formats with 13GB tapes.

In most cases, you don’t need to worry about tape format; the computer will automatically select the

proper format to read or write each tape. You’ll only be concerned with specific tape formats if you’re

using tape to transfer data to or from another computer with a different model tape drive.

Some software may have further restrictions on tape format.

Loading and Unloading Tape Cartridges

To avoid static discharge, always ground yourself by touching the metal chassis before loading or

unloading a tape cartridge.

For the AM-62x tape drives, follow this procedure to load a tape cartridge:

Press the button on the drive's front panel to open the tape drive door.

Hold the cartridge with the metal side down. The end of the tape cartridge with the write-protect

switch will enter the drive first.

Insert the cartridge into the drive. Keep pushing until the cartridge stops, and then close the door.

After the door closes, the drive positions the tape, after which it is ready for use.

Before unloading the tape cartridge, be sure the tape activity light is not flashing. To unload, press the

tape door release button and remove the tape from the drive.

This is the procedure for the AM-650:

Hold the cartridge with the metal side down. The end of the tape cartridge with the write-protect

switch will enter the drive first.

Insert the cartridge into the drive. When the cartridge is part way in, the drive will take it and

load it into the proper position.

If you insert a tape incorrectly, the drive will reject it. Do not attempt to force a tape into the

drive! If the tape does not load easily, take it back out and check its orientation.