A data storage device is disclosed with a housing sized for a tape drive. A tape reel is mounted for rotation within the housing and a guide is mounted in the housing spaced apart from the tape reel. A first end of a data tape segment is mounted to the tape reel and a second end is not mounted to the tape reel. A structural tape segment has a pair of ends mounted between the first and second ends of the data tape segment for structurally enhancing an intermediate region of the data tape segment. In another embodiment, a structurally enhanced intermediate region is advanced to a read/write region of the data storage device during storage of the device for preventing inadvertent damage to the data tape.