Knowledge Base

Backup Exec from Symantec takes exclusive control over tape drive, and no other software, including Windows NT Backup, can access it

This article applies to:

• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10 Advanced Server
• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10 Server for Windows (Standalone)
• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10 Advanced Server - Small Business Server Edition
• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10 Advanced Workstation
• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10 Workstation (Standalone)
• Acronis Backup & Recovery 10 Advanced Server - Virtual Edition
• Acronis True Image Echo Server for Windows
• Acronis True Image Echo Enterprise Server
• Acronis True Image Echo Workstation
• Acronis True Image Echo Virtual Edition
• Acronis True Image Echo for MS Windows SBS

Symptoms

1. You have Symantec's Backup Exec installed on a machine with a tape drive attached;
2. The tape drive can only be accessed through Backup Exec. No Acronis or Microsoft product (e.g. NTBackup) can access the tape drive:
   

   Acronis Backup & Recovery 10	Symantec's Backup Exec

Cause

Backup Exec takes exclusive control over the tape drive.

Solution

As a workaround, uninstall Backup Exec. This should free the tape drive and let other software access it.

(!) Since Symantec software affects Windows Removable Storage Manager (RSM), you might need to rebuild RSM database to clean up all the traces after removing Symantec software:

1. Stop the RSM Service:
   • Start -> Run -> services.msc;
   • On the Services window, right-click on the Removable Storage entry and select Stop.
2. Delete the RSM databases from %SystemRoot%\System32\NtmsData;
   • Restart the RSM Service:
   • Start -> Run -> services.msc;
3. On the Services window, right-click on the Removable Storage entry and select Start;
4. Put a new tape (or a tape that may be overwritten) in the tape drive;
5. Hit Start-Run and type in compmgmt.msc to open Computer Management;
6. Navigate to Storage -> Removable Storage -> Libraries;
7. Right-click on the tape drive, select Properties and uncheck Enable Drive;
8. Click Apply;
9. Check the Enable Drive box again;
10. Right-click on the tape drive, and select Prepare.

More information

Please contact Symantec's support if you have further questions about the issue.