You cannot successfully mount a tape drive on a Windows Server 2003-based server

When you try to use the Removable Storage service to manage a tape drive on your Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based server, you may not be able to successfully mount the drive. In this scenario, you receive one of the following error messages: If you view the properties for the tape drive by using the Removable Storage service, the tape drive may have two tabs that have the same name: Additionally, each Device Information tab may display a different firmware revision number.

This problem occurs when you update the firmware for the tape drive. After the drive has been updated, Removable Storage may not be able to obtain the device serial number for the tape drive. In this scenario, Removable Storage uses the device instance name. But because the device has been updated, the device instance name has been changed. Removable Storage then creates a new device and a new drive, but it associates this information with the old device library entry. Therefore, an association is created in that entry between the two drives. This association may prevent the tape drive from being mounted correctly.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003

Windows Server 2003 64-Bit Edition

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: