When performing a backup operation with Backup Exec, the alert message "Please insert overwritable media" is displayed.

Article:TECH6377  |  Created: 2000-01-05  |  Updated: 2012-05-16  |  Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH6377
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Technical Solution

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Problem



When performing a backup operation with Backup Exec, the alert message "Please insert overwritable media" is displayed.


Error



Media "xxxxxxx" is overwrite protected.
Please remove the media from the drive.
Please Insert overwritable media into the drive.

UMI code : V-275-432,V-275-413,V-275-417, V-275-416


Cause



This alert may be displayed because the media provided for the backup operation is overwrite protected. This protection can be physical, or by the Backup Exec (tm) Advanced Device and Media Management (ADAMM).

There are three separate alerts related to this message (Figures 1, 2 in Solutions Section ).


Solution




Figure 1


Figure 2
 


To resolve the alert message, perform the following:

1. Check the physical write protection switch on the tape; verify that the tape is not physically write protected.
2. Check the Overwrite Protection Period on the media.

 
a. Go to the Media tab in Backup Exec.
b. Right-click on Media Set 1 (or the media set the current job is targeted), select Properties.
c. In the box labeled Overwrite Protection Period (OPP), change Infinite to a more appropriate protection period (see note below) (Figure 3).

Figure 3
  
 

 
Note: The Overwrite Protection Period (OPP) is protection from accidentally overwriting a tape. For example: If backups are performed using a five-tape or seven-tape rotation (one tape for each day of the work week), and are re-used each week, the OPP should be set for six days --1 day less than the rotation period.  The protection period is started at the end of the backup, therefore if the OPP was set for seven days or one week, the tape would still fall under the OPP when it was due for the next backup
 
d. Click OK.
 

3. Check the Media tab's Imported Media set. If Backup Exec recognizes a tape as being from another application, it will move the media into the Imported Media set.  This media set has an Overwrite Protection Period of Infinite. Any media that has an infinite overwrite protection time needs to be moved to the Scratch Media set before it can be overwritten.

 
a. On the Media tab, click All Media.
b. On the right pane, under the column labeled Overwrite Protection Time Left look for any media that displays Infinite.
c. Right-click on the tape displaying Infinite,  and select Move Media (Figure 4).
 
 
Figure 4
 
 
 
 
d. Click the drop-down list and select Scratch Media (Figure 5).
 

Figure 5
 
 
 
 
e. The Overwrite Protection Time Left should be None; if not, press the <F5> key, or close and relaunch Backup Exec for Windows Servers (Figure 6).
 
 
Figure 6
 
 
This process should allow the backups to continue normally.
 

 

Supplemental Materials

SourceUMI
ValueV-275-432
Description

Please Insert overwritable media into the drive.

SourceUMI
ValueV-275-413
Description

Please remove the media from the drive

SourceUMI
ValueV-275-417
Description

Media '%s' is overwrite protected

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Legacy ID



204061


Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH6377


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