Editing Sinclair QL Microdrive Troubleshooting Guide (section)

=== Tape condition and handling ===

* Tape that has become sticky, shed oxide, or been stored in a hot or damp place should not be run — it will contaminate the head.
* A '''jammed tape''' or '''tight cartridge tape''' is listed by Sinclair as a mechanical fault requiring attention to the clamp spring, rollers and motor.<ref name="sm" />
* Listen when a cartridge is inserted: '''clicking or crunching sounds indicate a weak clamp spring'''.<ref name="sm" />
* Damaged cartridges and "microdrive incompatibility" are treated together in the manual with tight tape, noisy operation and format failures — all point at the mechanics rather than the electronics.<ref name="sm" />
* Check the '''write-protect tab''' before assuming a fault: a protected cartridge cannot be written or formatted.<ref name="sm" />