NT Backup Media will not Mount

I have a computer running Windows 2003 SBS. I am trying to back up to a Travan 10/20 drive, backup size should be about 9GB. I first tried to use the SBS Server Management Console Backup Wizard to back up, but I always got the error "The requested media failed to mount. The operation was aborted." so I looked at the MSKB, found the page http://support.microsoft.com/?id=831664 and downloaded the patch, which made no difference. I see also in that KB article that Microsoft says "The backup destination may also be set to "miniQIC" instead of to the actual tape drive, and you may not be able to change this selection." (WHat is that? Why cant the Server management console be used to back up a system to anything but a MiniQIC??) So I tried the NTBAckup using a scheduled batch file.
I set up a .bkf file in NTBackup, to hold the settings. I then scheduled a .bat file to run at certain times. This worked fine on a previous computer running XP Pro, with this same Travan drive and tapes. The .bat file is as follows:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntbackup.exe backup "@C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\daily.bks" /n "Media created 12/1/2004 at 12:14 PM" /d "Set created 12/1/2004 at 12:14 PM" /v:no /r:no /rs:no /hc: on /m normal /j "daily" /l:s /p "Travan" /um

edit note: I put the space in the /hc: on switch so it would display the characters rather than /hcn but the batch file as posted did not have a space there. Newt
Now, either the media does not mount at all, or else this is the log file for what appears to be a partially sucessful backup:

"Backup Status
Operation: Backup
Active backup destination: Travan
Media name: "Media created 11/22/2004 at 6:48 PM "

Backup (via shadow copy) of "C: "
Backup set #1 on media #1
Backup description: "Set created 11/22/2004 at 6:50 PM "
Media name: "Media created 11/22/2004 at 6:48 PM "

Backup Type: Normal

Backup started on 11/30/2004 at 9:13 PM.
Warning: Unable to open "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\SIT31721.tmp\WIZCHAIDLL" - skipped.
Reason: The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.


Backup completed on 12/1/2004 at 12:11 AM.
Directories: 3438
Files: 28642
Bytes: 9,967,848,029
Time: 2 hours, 58 minutes, and 2 seconds
Backup (via shadow copy) of "System State "
Backup set #2 on media #1
Backup description: "Set created 11/22/2004 at 6:50 PM "
Media name: "Media created 11/22/2004 at 6:48 PM "

Backup Type: Copy

Backup started on 12/1/2004 at 12:11 AM.
The requested media failed to mount. The operation was aborted.
The operation was ended.
Backup completed on 12/1/2004 at 12:12 AM.
Directories: 72
Files: 278
Bytes: 62,661,271
Time: 1 minute and 29 seconds

----------------------

The operation did not successfully complete.

----------------------

I dont know much about this, but it looks like the first part works and then the second part fails, and the second part is the system state?

Anyone know about this and what I can do to fix it?

Thanks!
johnny5

 

Just sending this back to the top.

 

I'm out of my depth here, as my backup experience is with a PDP11 computer running RSX, (yes we still use a PDP11 to run some ultra critical hardware at work) backing up to an 8mm drive, but due to nothing better put forward, here goes.

You've tried 2 or 3 different tapes?

Do these tapes require formatting (usually only the head of the tape). If they must be formatted, can you run a format command form this current system to reformat them?

Have you run a head cleaning tape through the drive?

Apologies if I'm way off the mark here.

 

The tapes have been rotated through 5 or 6 different ones. I havent cleaned the drive yet, but hope to try that today. I am not sure about formatting, but as far as I know, I should just be anle to switch tapes daily and have them back up each night. It worked that way before using XP Pro and NTBackup, same tapes and same drive.

 

I've got a new 2003 server (not SBS) and got a similar problem with scheduled backup onto a Sony AIT drive. I am particularly underwhelmed with 2003's backup utility. I should have got the latest Veritas software - that'll teach me for skimping on backup.

If you go into manage your computer (right click on the My Computer icon) and select Storage > Removable, you can sort the tape problem there and get the drive to see the tape. (sorry for not being specific, I can't remember exactly how I fixed the problem. I know I did it in these screens - It may have been right click on the media and select "Eject ". Stick the tape back in and system works).

I've turned to manual backups until I can persuade my directors to pay for Veritas Backup Exec - next week hopefully .

 

I have at least found out that the backups were running for the capacity of the tape uncompressed, since NT BAckup doesnt compress with software, and the Travan drive doesnt compress with hardware. After about 10GB it was saying "media failed to mount" but that just meant that the tape ran out of room (found this info at http://www.backupassist.com/KnowledgeBase/index.php/Main/MediaFailedToMount ) So I set up a split backup, then tried again. This time it didnt mount at all. In the storage management section of Computer Management, it says the media is in a different pool than the rest of it. Can the import of media into the proper pool be automated in NT Backup? I just moved it to the Travan Backup pool and will try again tonight.