Abstract: A data transfer apparatus comprises drive apparatus to move a received tape along a path in a longitudinal direction of the tape, a transducer head to transfer data to and/or from the tape, a tape lifter to contact the tape; and control apparatus operable, in response to a tape speed related condition or event, to cause relative movement between the tape lifter and the tape into mutual contact, thereby biasing the tape away from surface to surface contact with the transducer head.

Abstract: In a method of electronically measuring reader/writer offset in a tape drive head, a plurality of sequentially adjacent data tracks are written on a tape with a write head. Error rate information is measured while reading a data track of the plurality of sequentially adjacent data tracks with a read head of the tape drive. A bathtub shaped curve is built from a set of the error rate information which is accumulated by reading the data track at a plurality of offsets of the read head relative to the data track. Offset of the read head relative to the write head is measured by determining an offset of the read head which correlates to a magnetic center of the data track as represented by a center point between edges of the bathtub shaped curve.

Abstract: In a method of electronically measuring reader/writer offset in a tape drive head, a plurality of sequentially adjacent data tracks are written on a tape with a write head. Error rate information is measured while reading a data track of the plurality of sequentially adjacent data tracks with a read head of the tape drive. A bathtub shaped curve is built from a set of the error rate information which is accumulated by reading the data track at a plurality of offsets of the read head relative to the data track. Offset of the read head relative to the write head is measured by determining an offset of the read head which correlates to a magnetic center of the data track as represented by a center point between edges of the bathtub shaped curve.