Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: What is the RSM and how do I troubleshoot with it?

A: The Removable Storage Manager (RSM) in Microsoft® Windows® 2000 is an interface designed to manage removable storage devices and media. It also provides a portal for applications to control and communicate with devices and media.

Troubleshooting with RSM

Device not Recognized Properly

There are times when a backup program does not recognize the backup device. Usually, the problem is with the physical device, cable, or power. However, sometimes the issue is with RSM.

If the device is recognized by Windows in Device Manager but is not accessible in a backup program, then you may want to check for the device in the Windows RSM. The RSM is a Windows manager that controls the status of media and tape libraries. The information used by the RSM is stored in a database that tracks device and media states. Backup programs interface with the RSM for control of the tape drive. If there are issues with the drive in RSM, it is good to remove the device and allow it to be redetected.

To check the status of a device in RSM perform the following steps.

  1. On the desktop, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.

    My Computer menu

  2. In the Computer Management window, under the Storage section, click to expand Removable Storage.

    Computer Management window, Removable Storage options

  3. Under Physical Locations, the physical devices are displayed. Any drive types that contain removable media are listed.

    Computer Management window, ARCHIVE Python options

  4. If the drive has red X on it, it was detected at one point but is now offline. To delete the drive to allow for a redetection and re-entry into RSM, right-click the drive, and then click Delete.

    Computer Management window, ARCHIVE Python Drives options

  5. To refresh the RSM and re-enter the drive, ensure that the drive is physically connected and operational, remove it from Device Manager, delete it from RSM, and restart the server. When the device is detected, it is automatically entered into RSM and placed available for use.

Recreating the RSM Database

To create an new RSM database, perform the following steps.

  1. Open the Services MMC in Windows.

  2. Find the Removable Storage service in Services. Stop the Removable Storage service and change the startup type to Disabled. Restart the server.

  3. Browse to \systemroot\system32\ntmsdata\, and then rename all files in that folder to *.OLD.

  4. Change the Removable Storage service startup type to Automatic.

  5. Restart the server.

  6. Reinsert the media and see if it is detected properly. If it is not, the issue may be a problem with the physical device or media.

Note: See Microsoft Knowledgebase article Q235032 for more information.