PRB: SQL Server Tape Backup is Unsupported on Windows 95/98 Computers

ID: Q205557

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

SQL Server 7.0 does not support tape backup when running on the Windows 95 and Windows 98 operating systems.

You can create the tape dump device on computers running Windows 95 or Windows 98 by using a command similar to the following: 


EXEC sp_addumpdevice 'tape', 'tapedump1', '\\.\tape0'


However, when you attempt to perform a backup to that device by using the following statement: 


backup database pubs to tapedump1


you receive the following error message:
Server: Msg 3201, Level 16, State 5, Line 1
Cannot open backup device 'tapedump1'. Device error or device off-line. See the SQL Server error log for more details.

Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
Backup or restore operation terminating abnormally.

Additionally, the following appears in the SQL Server error log:
BackupTapeFile::OpenMedia: Backup device '\\.\tape0' failed to open. Operating system error = 2(The system cannot find the file specified.).


WORKAROUND

For SQL Server on computers running Windows 95 or Windows 98, perform all backups to disk. You can then use Windows 95 or Windows 98 backup to transfer the backup files to tape.


MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about tapes, backups, and the Windows 95 operating system, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q133153 Microsoft Backup for Windows 95 Questions and Answers
Q130946 Troubleshooting Windows 95 Backup
Q124730 Tape Backup Units Supported in Windows 95

Additional query words: back up 9x 9 win win95 win98 win9x win9 errorlog 


Keywords          : SSrvAdmin 
Version           : WINDOWS:95,98; winnt:7.0
Platform          : WINDOWS winnt 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: January 28, 1999