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Matt808
Level 2
10 years ago
Solved

Restore data from Tape, Unknown Media

Hello All,

Scenario: Client used Backup Exec 12 to back up some data onto a LTO-4 drive in their environment. They need to restore some data but their drive is broken and have shipped us this tape in hopes of us being able to retreive it. I have built a new Windows 2008 R2 server with Backup Exec 15. Our tape loader is HP 1/8 G2 with a fiber connection. 

 

Problem: BE 15, although it sees the tape, it is being labeled as "unknown media". The client previously had not used barcode label. I found out that one way to bypass this is to disable the barcode reader in my tape library. Unfortunately, I also found out this was not possible with this model. 
 

Question: How can I view and restore data from this one LTO-4 tape? I read that using the re-labeling tape option in BE will erase it, which I obviously cannot do. I have a cleaning tape inside the library and BE 15 correctly identifies it as so. If I simply create my own label for this tape, slap it on and re-inventory, will this allow BE to correctly identify the tape? I only need to restore some files and will give the tape back to client with all data on the tape intact. 

 

Thanks!

  • Thanks for replay VJware. I failed to mention that I've already tried the Inventory and Catalog option but BE threw an error about barcode label. I basically was stuck.

    This morning, I slapped on a custom barcode label I made, switched the write-protect switch on the tape as I don't want anything to be overwritten, and BE finally recognized the tape.

    After catalog, I was able to view the contents and was successfully able to restore files to the server!

  • Just right-click the slot/drive and choose Inventory & Catalog.

    If restores cause an error, you may want to consider installing BE 12 instead of BE 15 and then running the restore.
     

  • Thanks for replay VJware. I failed to mention that I've already tried the Inventory and Catalog option but BE threw an error about barcode label. I basically was stuck.

    This morning, I slapped on a custom barcode label I made, switched the write-protect switch on the tape as I don't want anything to be overwritten, and BE finally recognized the tape.

    After catalog, I was able to view the contents and was successfully able to restore files to the server!