Broken or excessively slack tape. 

The drive has encountered a condition where it  cannot unload the tape or determine that the tape is in the path of the head. as the tape is excessively slack or the tape has physically broken.  

NOTE:   Do not power cycle the drive.

Please try the following procedures:

• Try pushing the Eject button on the drive
• If you have tried the Eject button but the tape is not responding, then please try the Eject/Unload operation from your backup / archive software application
• Put the drive into Maintenance Mode.  When the drive attempts to go into Maintenance Mode, the tape drive forces an unload of a cartridge.  For information on how to enter and exit maintenance mode click here
• If none of the above succeed, then please try resetting the tape drive by holding down the Eject button for 10 seconds, this will restart the tape drive.  During the reset process the drive will go through an extended POST process, which will take at least 10 minutes, but with a stuck tape it could take as long as an hour.  The drive may look inactive but please give the recovery process time.  During the reset processed you will see a count down on the SCD.  At the end of the reset process the tape will not be automatically ejected, so you will have to press the Eject button again at the end of the process

If the tape cartridge is successfully ejected from the drive it should be discarded as it is damaged.   If the drive fails to recover from the error, stop using the tape drive and please submit a [support ticket].  

If you have any questions please submit a [support ticket]