You can also run a utility program called discover.exe to see what the loader is reporting. This completely avoids using the Backup Exec database to help clarify the situation.
To use it, you must stop the BE services, open a command prompt, then navigate to the BE install path. Type discover. It is completely safe.
You should find a section that looks like this:
06:00:01:01 08 -- \\.\MediumChanger2
INQ 00 "TANDBERGStorageLoader 0263"
INQ cc ""
INQ dc ""
INQ 83 "TANDBERGStorageLoader Axxxxx7"
INQ 80 "Axxxxx7"
TUR 00 00000
RES 00 00 00000
REL 00 00 00000
MTE 0000 1 (robot movers)
STE 0001 8 (storage slots)
IEE 0000 0 (import/export slots, aka mailslots)
DTE 00f0 1 (tape drives)
0 "HP Ultrium 3-SCSI HxxxxxxK"
The STE line is how many storage slots the loader is reporting. If discover shows 8, but BE still only shows 7, then the problem is probably with BE. If discover shows 7 slots, then the probablem is probably with the loader or its configuration.