LOADING MEDIA? PLEASE HELP!!!!

[ritchiehicks]

Since installing Backup Exec 9.1 from a previous version on to SBS2003 (clean install), I put a new tape in and tell it to run the job, but it just states "loading media" and will do for unlimited hours, even though the tape in in.

It worked fine on the old server and previous version.

VERY occasionally it will complete the backup 100% (on no particular media selection)

Here' what I have tried to do to rectify the fault.

1. Brought 2 x new pack of tapes. Same problem.
2. Cleaned the drives at mulitple times (have always done this)
3. Wiped the tapes clean
4. Updated the tape device drivers (its a Compaq SDT10000)

The tape drive is 24 months old and worked fine previous to this new install.

I am running SBS2003 SP2 with 3.00GB Xeon, 1 GB Ram, 2x60 GB Harddisks (mirrored). All other devices work fine.

[Ameet_Thakkar]

By design the loading media status of a backup job indicates that Backup Exec is awaiting correct (overwritable) media to be inserted in the tape drive. Usually, an alert is pending to be responded. If the backup job is targeted to a backup to disk folder, it waits for .bkf file getting created. In a healthy situation, loading media status should change as soon as the correct tape is inserted or the .bkf file gets created. In cases where it does not happen, this can be either due to incorrect option selected or device communication problem.
Following are the possible reasons and solution for the issue :
1. This error may occur if Backup Exec is waiting for an alert to be responded.The alert can be "Insert Overwritable Media" or "Remove Media", depending upon the Job Properties.
Ensure that there are no pending alerts in Alert tab. Please refer the following technote for detailed instructions:
Title:-How to configure VERITAS Backup Exec (tm) 9.x for Windows Servers to respond to alerts automatically http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/254685.htm


2. The error may also appear if there is no free space on the media. This happens if data to be backed up exceeds the capacity of the tape. Perform a small test backup on a new tape and also on the Backup to Disk folder and verify if the problem appears for this backup. This will isolate the exact cause of the issue due to data size.


3. This issue could also occur due to SCSI hardware issue.

Check for any hardware error (Event Id 7, 9 and 11) Please ensure that you have installed the latest VERITAS drivers from the following technote:

Uninstall the existing device drivers and reinstall the latest Veritas drivers. Run tapeinst.exe to install Veritas driver.
"TAPEINST.EXE" is located in the directory x:\Program Files\VERITAS\Backup Exec\NT (TAPEINST.EXE" is an automated installation application for installing tape device drivers )

http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/199881.htm



VERITAS Backup Exec (tm) 9.1 - Device Driver Installer (20050115) - Includes Tape Driver Release (20041231) and Robotic Library Release (45) (Intel Only)


http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/273853.htm

To isolate the issue, perform some test backups or use Windows Native Backup utility to check the communication between tape device and computer.( Stop All the Back Exec Services before performing NT backup )
------------------------------------------------------------------------

We hope this helps. Let us know if the problem still exists and revert back with the error message.

[Sheetal_Risbood]

Hello,

In reference to our previous reply to your post, we would request you to update us on the progress.

However, if we do not receive your intimation within two business days, this post would be 'assumed answered' and archived.


Thanks.

[Sheetal_Risbood]

Archiving the post as per our previous reply