0x0000044E: Tape or partition start error fix

Quick answer for advanced users: Clean the tape drive head with a certified cleaning cartridge, then re-initialize the tape in your backup software. If that fails, try a different tape or update the tape drive firmware.

What is this error?

You're seeing error 0x0000044E when you try to read or write to a tape drive. It means the drive hit the beginning of the tape—or the start of a partition—but couldn't do what it needed. Usually happens during backup or restore jobs. The tape might be dirty, or the backup software got confused about where data starts.

I've seen this a lot with old LTO-4 and LTO-5 drives. One client had a tape that worked fine for months, then suddenly gave this error every night at 2 AM. Turned out the tape head was dirty from dust in the server room. Another time, a tech accidentally used a cleaning tape that was way past its 15-use limit—made the problem worse.

Fix steps

Step 1: Clean the tape drive head

This is the number one cause. Tape drives are mechanical beasts—dirt and dust build up fast. Use a certified cleaning cartridge for your drive model. Not a generic one. For LTO-4, use an LTO-4 cleaning tape. Run it once, let the drive do its thing (usually takes 30-60 seconds).

Pro tip: Check how many times you've used that cleaning tape. Most are good for 15-20 uses. After that, they just push dirt around. I mark the count with a Sharpie on the cartridge.

Step 2: Re-initialize the tape

In your backup software (like Backup Exec, Veeam, or even Windows Backup), format or re-initialize the tape. This writes a fresh header to the tape. It'll erase everything, so make sure you don't need the data.

In Backup Exec: Right-click the tape device > Format Tape
In Veeam: Go to Tape Infrastructure > Media Pools > Right-click > Format
In Windows Backup: Use the command line
  wbadmin delete systemstatebackup -keepversions:0

Step 3: Check the tape itself

If cleaning and re-initializing don't work, swap the tape with a known good one. If the error goes away, the original tape is bad. Tapes get worn out, especially after 100+ passes. I've had tapes that looked fine but had magnetic degradation at the start.

Step 4: Update firmware

Go to the drive manufacturer's site (HP, IBM, Quantum, etc.) and download the latest firmware. Flashing firmware fixes weird read/write errors sometimes. Follow their instructions exactly—don't power off during the update.

Alternative fixes

If the main fix doesn't work, try these:

• Use a different tape drive: If you have another drive, mount the tape there. If it works, your original drive has a hardware issue.
• Reset the SCSI connection: If it's an internal drive, power down the server, reseat the SCSI cable, then boot. For external drives, unplug and replug the USB or SAS cable.
• Check backup software logs: Sometimes the error is the software's fault. Look for corruption in the media pool. I had a Backup Exec job that failed because the pool database was out of sync. Rebuilding the pool fixed it.

Prevention tips

Stop this error before it starts:

• Clean the tape head every 50 hours of use—or monthly if you run backups daily. Mark a calendar reminder.
• Replace cleaning tapes after 15 uses. They're cheap compared to losing data.
• Store tapes upright, away from magnetic fields. I've seen tapes left on top of a monitor that got zapped by the degaussing coil.
• Test tapes annually. Run a full read/write test on a spare tape to catch degradation early.
• Keep firmware updated. Check once a year or when you see weird errors.

Bottom line: 0x0000044E is usually dirty tape drive head, bad tape, or software confusion. Clean first, then re-initialize. If that fails, swap the tape or drive. Don't ignore it—it'll come back.