Abstract: A magnetic tape drive having a tape drive system for moving magnetic tape, tape read/write and servo system, tape cartridge load/unload systems, I/O communications, memory; and a control system, operates in three modes to conserve energy consumption. A first low power mode powers the I/O communications, the memory, and the control system. If a magnetic tape cartridge is in loaded position in the magnetic tape drive, the second low power mode powers the same as the first low power mode, and additionally powers the tape drive system to apply tension to a magnetic tape of the magnetic tape cartridge. In the first and the second low power modes, the control system operates the I/O communications, the memory and the control system to respond to and execute commands received at the I/O communications if the commands are executable without magnetic tape access. The third, full power mode, is entered if a command received at the I/O communications requires magnetic tape access.

Abstract: A plurality of fuses are arranged in pairs and configured such that each pair of fuses represents a data bit when one fuse of the pair is blown; represents an un-programmed bit when no fuse of the pair is blown; and represents a zero-ized bit when both fuses of the pair are blown. A fuse programming system programs the fuses of the pairs such that each pair represents a bit, comprising blowing a first fuse of a pair to represent a “1” bit, blowing a second fuse of a pair to represent a “0” bit, and blowing both fuses of a pair to represent a zero-ized pair, whereby if neither fuse of a pair is blown represents a null, un-programmed bit.

Abstract: A method to adjust the orientation of a read head comprising a first read element and a second read element, wherein the first read element and the second read element are separated by a distance, wherein the method moves a sequential information storage medium adjacent to the read head, determines a skew angle for the sequential information storage medium with respect to the read head using the first read element and the second read element, and encodes that skew angle in a computer readable medium.

Abstract: A method to adjust the orientation of a read head comprising a first read element and a second read element, wherein the first read element and the second read element are separated by a distance, wherein the method moves a sequential information storage medium adjacent to the read head, determines a skew angle for the sequential information storage medium with respect to the read head using the first read element and the second read element, and encodes that skew angle in a computer readable medium.

Abstract: Data reliability testing for a magnetic tape drive is conducted separately for the channels of a magnetic tape drive which write and read tracks of a multiple track magnetic tape. Memory stores testing data representing data separately written to tracks of a multiple track magnetic tape; each of a plurality of read channels reads data sensed by a tape head from a separate track of a magnetic tape; and error processing logic detects differences between data from each of a plurality of the read channels, and stored testing data of the memory representing data written to the same separate tracks.