Mark a tape as free

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To mark a tape as free

Open Backup.

The Backup or Restore Wizard starts by default, unless it is disabled.
Click the Advanced Mode link on the Backup or Restore Wizard.
On the Restore and Manage Media tab, click the tape you want to erase.
On the Tools menu, click Media Tools, and then click Mark as free .

Notes

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.
To start Backup, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.
Do not use this option if you need to erase tapes for legal reasons. Mark as free will not destroy the data on the tape. You must use another method to erase the tape.
You can only mark a tape as free if it is in the tape drive or in a loader slot of a tape changer.
Marking a tape as free moves the tape from the backup media pool to the free media pool.
You can also use Removable Storage to manage tapes.
You can also access the Mark as free command by right-clicking a tape on the Restore and Manage Media tab.

Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.