Diagnostic tape cartridge patterned with predetermined head-media spacings for testing a tape head of a tape drive

A diagnostic tape for use with a tape drive having a tape head, the diagnostic tape comprising:

• a first tape section that is configured to move across the tape head during use of the tape drive, the first tape section including a first patterned data code that is indicative of a first spacing between the tape head and the first tape section;
• a second tape section that is configured to move across the tape head during use of the tape drive, the second tape section including a second patterned data code that is indicative of a second spacing between the tape head and the second tape section, the second patterned data code being different than the first patterned data code;
• and
• a tape head cleaning section that is configured to move across the tape head during use of the tape drive, the tape head cleaning section being configured to clean the tape head as the tape head cleaning section moves across the tape head.

A method for estimating an actual spacing between a tape and a tape head during use of a tape drive that includes the tape head, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a diagnostic tape including (i) a first tape section including a first patterned data code that is indicative of a first spacing between the tape head and the first tape section, and (ii) a second tape section including a second patterned data code that is indicative of a second spacing between the tape head and the second tape section, the second patterned data code being different than the first patterned data code, at least one of the first patterned data code and the second patterned data code including formatted data that is interspersed with unformatted data;
• moving the first tape section of the diagnostic tape across the tape head to generate first information;
• and
• moving the second tape section of the diagnostic tape across the tape head to generate second information.