I'm using the W2K built-in backup software to schedule a daily continuous
backup to the same tape. I'm trying a normal backup monthly and a
differential daily. My objective is to save the majority of the data
regularly, while backing up changed or added files frequently.

I start the schedule by doing a manual *normal* backup manually which works
just fine. However, when the next day's *differential* runs, it does not
start because I get a message in the log that says: "The operation was not
performed because no unused media was available".

What am I doing wrong to get this message? I assumed that getting an initial
full manual backup, then differentials following - would work out well and
incur the new and changed files appropriately, but it is not happening.

Also, how does one ensure the erasure or formatting of the tape using the
W2K backup utility at the start of each month, to clear it for a new
scheduled *normal* backup?

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You need to make sure you are using a new tape each day for the
differential. The tape should be erased and formatted automatically if you
set it up to replace the old data in the backup program. I have only used
this program a few times for win2k. I use arcserveit which is much better
for backups but much more expensive as well.

--
crazymiclo
A+, Network+, MCP

"Billy" <nospam@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:gcadncc1ntSKW6SiU-KYgw@comcast.com...
> I'm using the W2K built-in backup software to schedule a daily continuous
> backup to the same tape. I'm trying a normal backup monthly and a
> differential daily. My objective is to save the majority of the data
> regularly, while backing up changed or added files frequently.
>
> I start the schedule by doing a manual *normal* backup manually which
works
> just fine. However, when the next day's *differential* runs, it does not
> start because I get a message in the log that says: "The operation was not
> performed because no unused media was available".
>
> What am I doing wrong to get this message? I assumed that getting an
initial
> full manual backup, then differentials following - would work out well and
> incur the new and changed files appropriately, but it is not happening.
>
> Also, how does one ensure the erasure or formatting of the tape using the
> W2K backup utility at the start of each month, to clear it for a new
> scheduled *normal* backup?
>
>

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Well, these things are easy w/ Backup Exec or ARCServe and the like. NT
Backup isn't as feature-rich though.

For getting rid of your error, I always put the "/um" switch at the end of
my backup command lines (have to do it manually in Scheduled Tasks). This
tells NT Backup to overwrite whatever media it finds, and continue the
backup. However, I change tapes every day. Not sure what part of this
would allow you to use the same media and add differential sessions to your
existing tape, but it's a start.

Google search it!

B

"Billy" <nospam@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:gcadncc1ntSKW6SiU-KYgw@comcast.com...
> I'm using the W2K built-in backup software to schedule a daily continuous
> backup to the same tape. I'm trying a normal backup monthly and a
> differential daily. My objective is to save the majority of the data
> regularly, while backing up changed or added files frequently.
>
> I start the schedule by doing a manual *normal* backup manually which
works
> just fine. However, when the next day's *differential* runs, it does not
> start because I get a message in the log that says: "The operation was not
> performed because no unused media was available".
>
> What am I doing wrong to get this message? I assumed that getting an
initial
> full manual backup, then differentials following - would work out well and
> incur the new and changed files appropriately, but it is not happening.
>
> Also, how does one ensure the erasure or formatting of the tape using the
> W2K backup utility at the start of each month, to clear it for a new
> scheduled *normal* backup?
>
>

Report this post to a moderator