DAT24 drive will backup to DDS2 but errors on DDS3
I have an HP Surestore DAT24 drive. Recently I began getting errors on my backups, the event log saying "The device, \Device\Tape0, has a bad block." After trying over 20 tapes & getting the same error I assumed my tape drive
was bad & replaced it (with a refurbished one I bought online).
I installed the new drive but kept getting the same errors (on multiple tapes). Finally I replaced the SCSI controller with another I already had that I knew was good. Same errors occurred. I then put the original tape drive, original SCSI controller into another computer I had (both are running NT4sp6). Same errors again.
I put an old DAT8 drive on the second system & it worked fine with DDS2 tapes. I then began trying out the DDS2 tapes on the first system with the new drive in it & was able to get successful backups , but got the errors on ALL of my DDS3 tapes. Finally I bought a box of new DDS3 tapes. I just tried them out & still got the same errors.
Why would I be able to run backups on the DAT24 drive using the DDS2 tapes & not brand new DDS3 tapes? I looked at the install guide for the drive but couldn't find any settings/switches that would be doing this.
was bad & replaced it (with a refurbished one I bought online).
I installed the new drive but kept getting the same errors (on multiple tapes). Finally I replaced the SCSI controller with another I already had that I knew was good. Same errors occurred. I then put the original tape drive, original SCSI controller into another computer I had (both are running NT4sp6). Same errors again.
I put an old DAT8 drive on the second system & it worked fine with DDS2 tapes. I then began trying out the DDS2 tapes on the first system with the new drive in it & was able to get successful backups , but got the errors on ALL of my DDS3 tapes. Finally I bought a box of new DDS3 tapes. I just tried them out & still got the same errors.
Why would I be able to run backups on the DAT24 drive using the DDS2 tapes & not brand new DDS3 tapes? I looked at the install guide for the drive but couldn't find any settings/switches that would be doing this.
rindi
What backup software are you using? Have you looked for new drivers for the device?
ASKER
I'm using NT Backup, though I have since put the tape drive/scsi controller into a Win98 machine & have gotten similar errors trying to use it's Windows Backup program with my new DDS3 tapes.
I've looked & I'm using the latest drivers for the tape drive & the controller. I re-installed the Tape drive controller just in case, but with no change.
I've looked & I'm using the latest drivers for the tape drive & the controller. I re-installed the Tape drive controller just in case, but with no change.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
I've returned the drive to where I purchased it. They said it'll take about a week or so. If that takes care of the problem I'll post & accept rindi's 2nd comment as the answer.
ASKER
Well it turned out that the drive was bad. I just got a replacement & it works fine.