Compaq Insight Agent Causes Tape Drive to Stop Responding

ID: Q174937

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51

SUMMARY

When you run Windows NT Backup on a Compaq computer with a 4 mm tape drive, Windows NT finds your 4 mm digital audio tape (DAT) drive but reports an error stating that the drive is not responding.

NOTE: Compaq has confirmed that this does occur with other backup software, specifically Seagate Backup Exec. ) This problem can also affect your digital linear tape (DLT).


CAUSE

This error is caused by interaction between the Compaq insight agent and the tape drives firmware (revision 0322). At this time, revision 0322 is the most recent firmware revision therefore, a firmware upgrade will not resolve the problem. Previous firmware revisions do not display this behavior.

These errors may be intermittent.


RESOLUTION

To verify that this problem is an issue with the tape drives firmware, perform the following steps:

  1. In Program Manager, double-click Control Panel, and then double-click Services.


  2. Point to SNMP, and then click Startup.


  3. Click to select Disabled, and then click OK.


  4. Click Close, and then restart the computer.


If this resolves the problem, please contact Compaq product support. (Disabling the SCSI agent from Insight Manager can also be used as a work around/test).

Checking the Model Number and Firmware Revision

The model number of the device and firmware revision are in the Windows NT registry. To check the model number and firmware revision, follow the steps below.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe), and go to the following subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Hardware\Devicemap\Scsi\ScsiPortx\ScsiBusx
    \TargetIdx\LogicalUnitIdx

    where x varies according to device number.


  2. Look at the Identifier:REG_SZ value to see the model number and firmware revision values. For example, if you see

    Compaq 4/16 GB TurboDat 0322

    Then 0322 is the firmware revision value.



For more information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q149970
TITLE : 4mm Tape Drive Not Working if SNMP is Installed

ARTICLE-ID: Q152346
TITLE : Some DEC TLZ06 4MM DAT Tape Drives Not Recognized by Windows NT

Additional query words: back up offline

Keywords : kbsetup ntsetup ntbackup NTSrvWkst
Version : WinNT:3.5,3.51
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: March 10, 1999
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