Tape drive shows no media. Inventory doesn't work.

[FalconSteele]

After working perfectly for many months, Backup Exec 2012 shows no media in the tape drive.  We have an IBM Ultrium-HH3 single drive device.  I have rotated several tapes through it and they all show as no media.  When I run an inventory three things happen:  1. the drive name changes to red on the All Storage tab. 2. the drive goes offline. I then have to right-click on the tape drive name to uncheck offline. 3. I get errors related to the inventory.  The two inventory errors are:  "Inventory Drive 00030 - The job failed with the following error:  Physical Volume Library Drive or Robot paused, offline, or disabled."  The second error is: "The drive hardware is offline. Please confirm that the drive hardware is powered on an properly cabled."

How can I get it to recognize the tapes again?  I checked Device Manager and everything looks normal there.  This was suggested in a Knowledgebase article.

Using Backup Exec 2012
Version 14.0 Rev. 1798 (64-bit)
FIPS Version:  Not enabled

Thanks.

[lmosla · Accepted solution]

use tapeinst.exe to install the symantec drivers

try doing a full power cycle of the tape drive

1. Power Off the Server completely 

2. Power off the Tape Drive then 

3. Power on the Tape Drive  wait till it is at a 'Ready' State then

4. Power on the Server

Check Windows Events for System Errors: Event ID's 5,7,9,11,15 These errors point to scsi, controller or tape drive errors

[Larry_Fine]

Your inventory failing is basically a victim of the drive going offline.  So, the real question is, why did your tape drive go offline?  And yes, doing an inventory job is a perfectly valid way to see if your hardware is working correctly.

If the steps above don't help, then check the near the tail of the adamm.log file.  It should give some more clues about the root cause.  Feel free to post your adamm.log file here and we will help translate it for you.

[FalconSteele]

I followed your steps and now everything is working perfectly again.  Thanks for the solution and fast response.  Our backups can continue as scheduled tonight. 

[Tanveer_Ahmad]

I have a server 2003 with SP2 and Backup Exec 2012. I need to read my old DDS3 DAT cartridges. I plug external DAT drive with scsi controller, drive is successfully installed in os and drive is also appear in backup exec 2012 with status online but I am unable read any cartridge. I run the inventory number of times but nothing happpen. I am sharing my adamm.log file can any one help me.