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This could be caused by a dirty head, or by deterioration of the head (although deterioration doesn't usually hit so fast).<br />
<br />
Run a cleaning tape, see if that helps.<br />
If there's no joy, take a look at the tape properties, or use manufacturer-provided diagnostics on the tape drive (for instance, HP has the free Library and Tape Tools)
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This could be caused by a dirty head, or by deterioration of the head (although deterioration doesn't usually hit so fast).

Run a cleaning tape, see if that helps.
If there's no joy, take a look at the tape properties, or use manufacturer-provided diagnostics on the tape drive (for instance, HP has the free Library and Tape Tools)

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Thank you for that.<br />
<br />
What turned out to be the problem?<br />
<br />
Philip
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Thank you for that.

What turned out to be the problem?

Philip

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We been backing up approx 250 GB of data nightly for many months without a hitch. &nbsp;Suddenly one night last week Backup Exec would backup about 150 GB and ask for another tape. &nbsp;Prior to each backup we run an erase job on the tape, reasoning that this should ensure a maximum space on each tape. There are no error codes and we are using hardware compression. &nbsp;We have not yet tried reformatting the tapes.
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We been backing up approx 250 GB of data nightly for many months without a hitch.  Suddenly one night last week Backup Exec would backup about 150 GB and ask for another tape.  Prior to each backup we run an erase job on the tape, reasoning that this should ensure a maximum space on each tape. There are no error codes and we are using hardware compression.  We have not yet tried reformatting the tapes.

Backup Exec 12 tape capacity inexplicably changed

The term "Backup" means the methods and processes involved to copy computer data (system data as well as application data) to media other than the ones where the data originally live (disk, tape, optical, cloud). "Restore" in turn means the methods and processes involved in data recovery, i. e., bringing back copied computer data to their original location. Backup/Restore primarily serves as a means of protection against data loss, be it due to disaster, corruption or sabotage. It can also be used for recovering data from an earlier point in time and even for cloning machines or applications. There is a wide variety of backup/restore software available, from expensive commercial products to free or open source tools.

Storage Software

Small Business Server (SBS) is a line of server operating systems targeted at small businesses by bundling the operating system with a number of other Microsoft products that would normally need to be purchased or licensed separately. The most notable inclusions are Exchange, SQL Server, SharePoint and ISA/TMG (Microsoft's firewall and proxy server).