Error instantly on catalog

[Daveasaurus]

Hi guys!

I'm trying to find some old data (from 2008) that were leftover from a company we merged with back then. 
I whack the tape in (single tape drive), inventory, and it picks up the name of the tape, but says 0bytes of 148.5gb used.
Then I go to catalog the tape, it errors out within 3 seconds with the following;

Catalog 00031

Job History for Catalog 00031

      Catalog 00031

Job name          : Catalog 00031

Job type            : Catalog

Job status          : Failed

Job log             : C:\Program Files\Symantec\Backup Exec\Data\BEX_WIN-MFLEAKFZFB7_00060.xml

Server name         : WIN-MFLEAKFZFB7

Selection list name : Catalog 00031

Device name         : COMPAQ 1

Target name         : COMPAQ 1

Media set name      : Error category    : Backup Media Errors

Error             : e00084ca - The data being read from the media is inconsistent.

For additional information regarding this error refer to link V-79-57344-33994

            Job Summary Information

Original start time : Monday, November 28, 2011 4:46:46 PM

Job started         : Monday, November 28, 2011 4:46:49 PM

Job ended           : Monday, November 28, 2011 4:46:51 PM

Elapsed time        : 00:00:02

            Set Detail Information - Catalog

Set type               : Catalog

Set status             : Running

Set description        : 

Start time             : Monday, November 28, 2011 4:46:49 PM

However, I've found a single tape that says that there is 40gig (or thereabouts) on the tape, but it still errors with the following;

Catalog 00033

Job History for Catalog 00033

      Catalog 00033

Job name            : Catalog 00033

Job type            : Catalog

Job status          : Failed

Job log             : C:\Program Files\Symantec\Backup Exec\Data\BEX_WIN-MFLEAKFZFB7_00065.xml

Server name         : WIN-MFLEAKFZFB7

Selection list name : Catalog 00033

Device name         : COMPAQ 1

Target name         : COMPAQ 1

Media set name      : All Media Used#47F1CD28-001

Error category    : Backup Media Errors

Error             : e00084cd - The data being read from the media is inconsistent.

For additional information regarding this error refer to link V-79-57344-33997

            Job Summary Information

Original start time : Tuesday, November 29, 2011 8:43:37 AM

Job started         : Tuesday, November 29, 2011 8:43:37 AM

Job ended           : Tuesday, November 29, 2011 9:24:29 AMElapsed time        : 00:40:52

            Set Detail Information - Catalog

Set type               : Catalog

Set status             : Completed

Set description        : Error                  : e00084cd - The data being read from the media is inconsistent.

Byte count             : 123,475,069,284 bytes

Rate                   : 2,931.00 MB/MinFiles                  : 5,882

Directories            : 1,360Skipped files          : 0Corrupt files          : 0Files in use           : 0Start time             : Tuesday, November 29, 2011 8:43:39 AM

End time               : Tuesday, November 29, 2011 9:23:49 AM

Media used             : #47F1CD28-001

Note that the first error code is e00084ca whereas the second is ec00084cd.

I'm using;
Windows Server 2008
Backup Exec 12.5 (fully updated via Live Update)

I've tried multiple (over 20) tapes, doubley making sure everything is fully updated, 
I also have been directed (from other threads) to http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH35908 - I'm looking into getting a cleaning tape, obviously used other tapes, performing an erase isn't an option (as I'm trying to view the data!), the event viewer has no hardware errors, and the drivers are up-to-date for the drive. Firmware is currently v085 - latest is v095, but I haven't updated due to it being a borrowed drive!

Has anyone got some suggestions/tips for me to try?

Thanks a lot,
Dave.

[pkh]

Are these tapes created by BE?

It could be that they are bad due to poor storage conditions.

[Daveasaurus]

That is an excelent question - and one nobody here is able to answer for sure, unfortunately!

But to me, having that one tape that DOES seem to start cataloging (even though it fails - after 40 minutes), would indicate to me that they would be BE tapes. Am I off in thinking that?

The tapes going bad are what I'm afraid of.. I'm going to find the most recent tape I can, and give it a go.

edit: I have tried as recent a tape as I can find, and they fail instantly as well.

[pkh]

Then they are probably in a format that is not recognised by BE.

[Daveasaurus]

I've now found a second tape that reads for about 30-40 minutes before erroring. I can browse the partial catalogue (none of the data is helpful to me, however).

I'm struggling to get my head around the fact that BE could read a chunk of the tape if they were done in an unreadable format..

Cheers,
Dave.

[Striker_303]

BE uses same format as NT backup in win 2003.

Does the Tape drive you are using supports the older tapes you have,

there is a backward compatibility and format compatility list with different manufactures

Have a look at this:

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/articles/it-acceptable-place-lto-5-barcode-label-lto-3-tape-order-make-it-over-written-backup-exec

[Daveasaurus]

Yes, they are compatible - according to both HP Storageworks Library and Tape utility, and the http://www.hptapecompat.com/ website, our SDLT1 tapes are compatible with the HP Storageworks SDLT 320 drive.

[Striker_303 · Accepted solution]

You may Try disabling all BE services, inculding SQL(bkupexec)

Enable "Removable storage media" service

and try to catalog and restore using NT backup.

WIn 2003 NT backup supports Stand-alone tape drive

[CraigV]

...you can also try stopping the BE services, and renaming the Catalogs folder to Catalogs.old. Restart the BE services and try recatalogging the tapes again.

If you're having issues cataloging the latest tapes used by BE, it could be corruption in either the BEDB (fixed by running a BEDB repair within BEutility), or corruption in your Catalogs folder.

[Daveasaurus]

Thanks for your advise!

We did try that yesterday, and managed to get NTBackup to see the drive and tape. In one of the fields it had "NetVault". 

Downloaded a trial of NetVault, and it has no troubles reading the tapes!
So, it turns out that the tapes were made through NetVault!

Thanks for all your help!