Error Message: The Media Is Not Supported by This Product... (191796)

SYMPTOMS

When you use Microsoft Backup to read a backup tape, you may receive the following error message:

The media is not supported by this product. Please insert another media.

Using a different tape generates the same error message. The error message occurs with any operation that attempts to read the tape.

CAUSE

This error message occurs if the tape drive does not support the Quick File Access format (QFA), which is also known as media partitioning. Backup requires that the tape drive support QFA.

MORE INFORMATION

QFA allows tapes to be divided into a large data partition and a small directory partition. The directory partition holds information about each of the backup sets on the tape, and can also be used to store the exact block address of each file on the tape. This allows for the fastest file retrieval possible with the tape drive.

To determine if your tape drive supports QFA, contact your tape drive manufacturer. Some earlier tape drives do not support QFA. Many newer drives do support QFA.

In some cases it may be possible to get updated firmware to add QFA support, but this is typically only an option for a few high-end tape drives.