I am running an external Dell DDS4 tape backup on Dell server. It has been running for over a year. In the last week it has started wanting to be cleaned after every backup. We tried new tapes and new cleaning tapes, however the problem persists. I would appreciate any help.

I'm not sure if it will help but have you looked for a diagnostics tool? I'm not sure if Dell do one, if not use the HP or Seagate version, they all use Seagate drives anyway. This should give you a variety of tests which may find any problems with the device. Wizard ICT. Microsoft Certified Professional

One of my colleagues had a problem with his tape drive in that it appeared to be working but actually was not writing to the tape, which he only discovered when the backups were really needed. Have you tried reading your backup tapes to see they are ok. I suspect your tape drive is failing, such that it is improperly feeding the tape and that is where the dirt is coming from. Good Luck - Keep us posted.

The tape makes a backup. During the process, I have it verify the tape. During the verification phase is when it hangs up and says it can't read the tape. Then I clean the head, run another backup, this time it writes and verifies. Then the next backup if I haven't cleaned the heads, it hangs up during the verify process. I have not tried a restore or catalog of one of the tapes that it says is good. I am not sure if I can get a diagnostic version that will run under novell. Thanks all