Autzoo.1509
hacknews,advising
utzoo!henry
Thu Mar 25 21:39:10 1982
Thu.Zoo tape problem
I have found out why the Thursday ZOO tape has been giving trouble on
its directory-listing pass:  a bad spot on the tape.  I have moved the
load-point marker to get rid of it.

I am concerned, however, because this was not a matter of an invisible
oxide defect.  The bad spot was a creased fold in the tape.  This is
not a manufacturing defect;  it is damage from slipshod handling here.

When unloading a tape, it happens with some frequency that there are
a couple of loose turns around the reel and a loose fold underneath.
This MUST NOT be left as is.  The next person who mounts the tape will
pull the outer layers up tight in the process, converting the fold to
creases.  The proper cure is as follows.  Before taking the tape off
the drive, turn the reel to unreel the outer turns.  Usually the fold
will "fall out" when it no longer has tape on top of it.  Then, and
only then, wind the loose tape up snugly and take the reel off the drive.
DO NOT try to clear a fold by pulling on the end of the tape -- this
is the worst possible thing you can do.