Error -206 on all tapes for no reason

[imalcolm]

Just starting last Friday, whatever tape I try to backup on reports an error -206. I tried cleaning the unit about 3 times now, and I've used about 7 different tapes just to make sure it wasn't some media error. I've also restarted the tape unit at least once.

 

I'm using an Iomega VS640 drive with the autoloader. It has no problems loading the tapes, and it'll use write up to a gig on the tape before it quits and gives an error -206.

 

Is this a Retrospect problem, or do you think I should contact Iomega?

Thanks

-Ian

[natew]

Hi

 

This can also be a communication problem to the tape drive. I suspect that is what is happening here.

 

How is this drive connected to your computer?

 

Thanks

nate

[imalcolm]

It's SCSI connected, and it seems to be finding the drive/loader just find. It lets me erase tapes and rename them, but it just won't let me write much to them.

[natew]

Hi

 

Can you try a test backup with the built in NT backup utility? If that fails too then you know you have a cabling or hardware problem

 

Thanks

Nate

[imalcolm]

I'll try a test backup today, but something else I noticed.

 

The backups start off running very fast, around 250 MB/Min. Then they slow to about 170, and right before it quits and says the media is bad it drops to around 5 MB/Min.

 

Any reason this could be?

[natew]

Hi

 

Communication problems or problem with the SCSI driver are the most likely causes.

 

Thanks

nate