Write protected, tapes no longer supported?

[Trana]

I was running backups just fine using Backup Exec 12 installed on a Win Server 2003 for a while after installation. Tapes are HP LTO2 and the tape drive is an internal HP Ultrium 448.

Then there was a period of time where no backups were done because noone was changing tapes.

Now that I want to start the backups again, all my media is write protected according to Backup Exec.

* They do not have the hardware write protection switch on

* They are in scratch media set

* I have tried a whole bunch of different media sets and settings with no luck.

I cant even re-label them or anything, twice I have run Backup Tests successfully (but 95% of the time these fail), but after trying a real backup after the successful tests, they have failed because of the media being write protected.

I tried a completely blank un-labeled tape out of the box and it was also considered write protected by Backup Exec.

I have tried HPs drivers for the tape drive as well as Symantecs drivers back and forth.

Restarted server and the Backup Exec services numerous times.

Its like the Symantec articles say, my tape drive no longer supports my tapes, but why? It did 6 months ago.

Some Windows updates have obviously been installed in those 6 months, but I dont believe any updates to Backup Exec or device drivers have been done.

The exact error message is as follows:
"Media 'XXXX' is write protected

The media in drive "HP 1" is currently locked. Unlock the write tab to write to this media.

Note: The write protected condition may be caused by media is not write compatible with the drive."

Any advice would be much appreciated, I'm going insane over this issue.

 

[Grenage]

I haven't encountered this before, so I can only offer suspicions and what I might look at. My guess would primarily be an issue with the Ultrium drive, and secondly with the BE software.

Ultrium drives come with a single-server backup program, don't they? Could you try writing files to the disc using it?

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area" - Major Mike Shearer

 

[Trana]

If the drive came with any software, I threw that away since I was always planing on using BE.

Thinking of re-installing BE. Will I be able to access the data easilly on the tapes that does have some backups on them if I reinstall BE?

 

[Grenage]

When you've reinstalled BE, you should be able to index/scan the tapes to pull any data off them.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area" - Major Mike Shearer

 

[Trana]

Uninstalled BE 12.0 and installed 12.5.

No better, back to square one.