Document ID: 304069
http://support.veritas.com/docs/304069 E-Mail Colleague IconE-Mail this document to a colleague

The alert "Please insert overwritable media" is displayed during a backup operation using Symantec Backup Exec for Windows Servers
Exact Error Message
Please insert overwritable media

Details:
Cause:
If the media in the drive is not overwritable, the above alert is displayed requesting the user to insert overwritable media in to a tape drive. Another reason for this alert is when the backup is spanning onto another tape.  When the backup spans to another media,it prompts for an Overwritable Media to continue backing up the resource(s).
Solution
Providing an overwritable tape and responding OK to the alert will allow the job to continue. The media in the drive can be overwritten if the media is scratch or recyclable (its overwrite protection period has expired). If allocated or imported media are in the drive, they may also be overwritten depending on the Media Overwrite Protection Level that is set.
Backup Exec can also be configured to respond to these alerts automatically. Refer to the Related Documents section for more information on configuring automated alert response in Backup Exec.

There are different alert messages associated with the alert "Please insert overwritable media". Please refer to the following technotes for more information on specific alerts:

I. Alert description: "Please insert overwritable media into the drive":
Technote ID 204061
When performing a backup operation with Backup Exec, the alert message "Please insert overwritable media" is displayed
 http://support.veritas.com/docs/204061
Technote ID 253545
Event ID 58061: "Please insert overwritable media into the drive. Overwritable media includes scratch, blank, and recyclable media. Please note that depending on the current Media Overwrite Protection setting, imported and allocated media may be overwritable as well" is reported in the Event Viewer Application Log.
 http://support.veritas.com/docs/253545

II. Alert description: "Please insert overwritable media into the cascaded drive group."
Technote ID 253546
Event ID 58061: "Please insert overwritable media into the cascaded drive group. Overwritable media includes scratch, blank, and recyclable media. Please note that depending on the current Media Overwrite Protection setting, imported and allocated media may be overwritable as well" in the Event Viewer Application Log
 http://support.veritas.com/docs/253546

III. Alert description: "Please insert overwritable media into the robotic library using the import command."
Technote ID 252436
Event ID 58064: "Backup Exec Alert: Library Insert (Server: "%server%") (Job: "%job name%") Please insert overwritable media into the robotic library using the import command. Overwritable media includes scratch, blank, and recyclable media" is reported in the Event Viewer Application Log.
 http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/252436.htm
Technote ID 253555
Event ID 58064: "Please insert media '%s' into the robotic library using the import command" in the Event Viewer Application Log
 http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/253555.htm
Technote ID 303727
Using Backup Exec for Windows Servers, the message "Please insert overwritable media into the robotic library using the import command." is displayed and the job status is "Queued" during a backup job and overwritable media is available in the library and media sets.
 http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/303727.htm

IV. Alert description: "Please insert overwritable media into the Backup-to-Disk device"
Technote ID 253549
Event ID 58061: "Please insert overwritable media into the Backup-to-Disk device. Overwritable media includes scratch, blank, and recyclable media. Please note that depending on the current Media Overwrite Protection setting, imported and allocated media may be overwritable as well" is reported when performing a backup operation.
 http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/253549.htm


Supplemental Material:

System: Ref.#Description
UMI: V-275-601 Please insert overwritable media into the Backup-to-Disk device
UMI: V-275-439 Please insert overwritable media into the robotic library using the import command.
UMI: V-275-435 Please insert overwritable media into the portal.
UMI: V-275-434 Please insert overwritable media into portal: %ld
UMI: V-275-433 Please insert overwritable media into the cascaded drive group.
UMI: V-275-432 Please insert overwritable media into the drive.

Products Applied:
 Backup Exec 10.0, 10.0 5484, 10.0 5520, 10d (10.1), 10d (10.1) 5629, 11d (11.0), 11d (11.0) 6235, 11d (11.0) 7170, 12.0, 12.5
Last Updated: July 13 2009 08:40 PM GMT
Expires on: 07-13-2010
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Subjects:
 Backup Exec
   Application: Backup, Media Management

Languages:
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Operating Systems:
Windows 2000

Advanced Server SP4, Server SP4

Windows XP

Pro 5.1 SP2

Windows Server 2003

Enterprise SP2, Standard Server SP2

Windows Small Business Server 2003

Premium Edition, Standard Edition