Problems with a DAT backup device

[yaro]

I'm not sure if anyone here has any experience with backup devices
working on XP PCs but let's try.I connected an HP DAT40 tape drive to
an Adaptec SCSI controller card on my XPpro machine. BIOS can see them
and Device Manager can see them. Windows automatically installed
correct drivers so I presume people are using DAT's on their PCs.
Anyway, it doesn't work. When I insert a backup tape it a green light
blinks for a while on the DAT drive and then the tape gets out. When I
insert a cleaning tape it stays in a bit longer. When I look into the
Removable Storage I can see HP C5683A SCSI Sequential Device and I can
confirm that it's enabled. Nonetheless there is nothing in the Media
container. Also I can't even see the Working Queue even though I've
got a CD-Rom and a CD-RW connected. Any idea what can be the problem?
yaro

 

[smlunatick]

I'm not sure if anyone here has any experience with backup devices
working on XP PCs but let's try.I connected an HP DAT40 tape drive to
an Adaptec SCSI controller card on my XPpro machine. BIOS can see them
and Device Manager can see them. Windows automatically installed
correct drivers so I presume people are using DAT's on their PCs.
Anyway, it doesn't work. When I insert a backup tape it a green light
blinks for a while on the DAT drive and then the tape gets out. When I
insert a cleaning tape it stays in a bit longer. When I look into the
Removable Storage I can see HP C5683A SCSI Sequential Device and I can
confirm that it's enabled. Nonetheless there is nothing in the Media
container. Also I can't even see the Working Queue even though I've
got a CD-Rom and a CD-RW connected. Any idea what can be the problem?
yaro

XP's native backup software can not access the DAT tape drive. It was
never designed for the larger capacity devices. You will need to
locate a different software.

BTW: DAT drives were never intended for "client" based Windows. They
are designed for servers, where large hard drives need to be backed up.

 

[philo]

I'm not sure if anyone here has any experience with backup devices
working on XP PCs but let's try.I connected an HP DAT40 tape drive to
an Adaptec SCSI controller card on my XPpro machine. BIOS can see them
and Device Manager can see them. Windows automatically installed
correct drivers so I presume people are using DAT's on their PCs.
Anyway, it doesn't work. When I insert a backup tape it a green light
blinks for a while on the DAT drive and then the tape gets out. When I
insert a cleaning tape it stays in a bit longer. When I look into the
Removable Storage I can see HP C5683A SCSI Sequential Device and I can
confirm that it's enabled. Nonetheless there is nothing in the Media
container. Also I can't even see the Working Queue even though I've
got a CD-Rom and a CD-RW connected. Any idea what can be the problem?
yaro

What backup software are you using?

 

[yaro]

Well, nothing really as the backup device doesn't seem to see the tape
and there is something wrong with
Removable Media as I mentioned in my post. I tried ntbackup but it
just kept asking to insert a backup tape.
These DAT 72 backup tapes are only 36GB big. There are drivers
available for XP on HP's website so I assumed
it should work with this system. As smlunatic suggested I'll try some
3rd party software if only I can find some
free application.
yaro

 

[Paul]

Well, nothing really as the backup device doesn't seem to see the tape
and there is something wrong with
Removable Media as I mentioned in my post. I tried ntbackup but it
just kept asking to insert a backup tape.
These DAT 72 backup tapes are only 36GB big. There are drivers
available for XP on HP's website so I assumed
it should work with this system. As smlunatic suggested I'll try some
3rd party software if only I can find some
free application.
yaro

To test, perhaps you can find an evaluation version of commercial software.

http://www.emcinsignia.com/try/

Something like Retrospect Professional (for desktop), still supports tape.
It's been years since I used it.

http://www.emcinsignia.com/products/software/retroforwin/comparison/

Paul

 

[yaro]

I'm just wandering... since the backup device spits the tape out
there is probably no way I can test any backup software with it
anyway.
yaro

 

[smlunatick]

I'm just wandering... since the backup device spits the tape out
there is probably no way I can test any backup software with it
anyway.
yaro

You must use the correct tape cartridge for the drive. The DAT40 can
only support cartridges up to 40GB. You must use DDS4. You can not
use the 72 GB cartridges.

 

[yaro]

Now that makes sense. Thanks mate
yaro

 

[yaro]

Got myself a DAT40 tape and now it works with no problems.
Thanks guys
yaro