Loading and Unloading Disk Packs

Set the LOAD/UNLOAD button to the outer position.

Press the UNLOCK DOOR button. When the DOOR OPEN message appears, lift the top door.

Detach the removable base of the disk pack.

Holding the disk pack by the handle, lower it into the drive.

Align the indexing marks and turn the disk pack clockwise until it stops.

Fold the handle over so that it lies flat against the disk pack, and store the removable base on top of the handle so that it does not get lost.

Close the top door and press the LOAD/UNLOAD button to the LOAD position.

Once the LOAD button is pressed, the disk drive spins up to speed and performs a diagnostic routine. The following messages will appear in the window display:

The AIR PURGE message refers to the elimination of contaminants and air in the disk drive. The disk drive operates in a vacuum environment. Data is not manipulated in any way.

You must shut down the operating system (MPE/iX) before attempting to unload a disk from the system domain.

If the LOAD/UNLOAD button on the disk drive is inadvertently pressed while the system is running, the system disk refuses the UNLOAD. The ACTIVITY panel indicates BUSY, momentarily, and the following message appears on the system console:

UNLOAD ON LDEV#n DENIED. =SHUTDOWN MUST PRECEDE AN 

UNLOAD ON A SYSTEM DISC

Warning: REPOSITION BUTTON BACK TO LOAD POSITION.

If the LOAD/UNLOAD button is not repositioned to the LOAD position and a powerfail occurs, the drive spins down and a NOT READY message appears on the system console. At this point, it is necessary to reposition the LOAD/UNLOAD button back to the LOAD position in order to spin the drive up.

After you have shut down the operating system, set the LOAD/UNLOAD button to the outer position (UNLOAD).

Press the UNLOCK DOOR button after the disk drive spins down.

When the DOOR OPEN message appears, lift the top door. Lift the handle of the disk pack. Turn the disk pack counterclockwise until the indexing marks are aligned, and then lift out the pack.

Place the removable base on the underside of the disk pack.

If the LOAD/UNLOAD button is pressed on a nonsystem disk while it is in use, the following error message displays on the system console:

DISMOUNT REQUEST FOR LDEV#n DENIED.  NON-SYSTEM DISC IN USE!

Warning: REPOSITION BUTTON BACK TO LOAD POSITION.

Reposition the button back to the LOAD position. Wait until the disk is no longer in use. Then press the button again.

If you forget to reposition the LOAD/UNLOAD button after receiving the above warning, and a powerfail occurs, the disk spins down (unloads). It is then necessary for you to restart the disk by resetting the LOAD/UNLOAD button to the LOAD (in) position.