Backup error - not part of a multiple family media set

I am new to SQL 2005. I have setup and new maintanaince plan of making backup on to different paths but i encountered an error saying

Executing the query "BACKUP DATABASE [promis_05] TO DISK = N'E:\\ERP Database\\ERP Backup\\Promis_05', DISK = N'\\\\backupsrv\\ERP Backup\\Promis_05' WITH NOFORMAT, INIT, NAME = N'promis_05_backup_20061111181236', SKIP, REWIND, NOUNLOAD, STATS = 10
" failed with the following error: "The volume on device 'E:\\ERP Database\\ERP Backup\\Promis_05' is not part of a multiple family media set. BACKUP WITH FORMAT can be used to form a new media set.
BACKUP DATABASE is terminating abnormally.". Possible failure reasons: Problems with the query, "ResultSet" property not set correctly, parameters not set correctly, or connection not established correctly.

We did not know what to make of this.

1) Is it bcoz i am backing up the database on 2 locations same time.

2) What is BACKUP WITH FORMAT?

3) Why won't it let me add a new file that is not part of the 'family' ?

4) How does it get to be part of the family?

Thought and ideas are highly appreciated!

When you back up to two files, you are creating a stripe set. The restriction is that all backups sent to a media set must have the same number of stripes. That's the meaning of your error.

You need to create a media set with the number of stripes you want to use. You can't add members later.

The method for creating a new media set is to use the WITH FORMAT option on your backup command. This is the equivalent of reformatting a tape for backups. It wipes out any previous data in the file(s), and sets up the headers correctly.

So, if you issue the same command in your script, adding WITH FORMAT for ONE TIME ONLY, the first time you use that media family, you should be good to go. From then on, you can just use it as your script is now.

backup and restore

When backup a database, then remove SQL Server and install SQL Server 2000. Then I restore database but I don't restore.
Error : "The media set for database 'dvbt' has 2 family members but only 1 are provided. All members must be provided. RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally"
Can you help me!How did you do the backup? The resotre process is expecting another media family for restoring the db, and obviously it's missing. Did you use two tapes?|||it's also possible that if the backup was done to disk that there was more than 1 file in the destination... this will stripe the backup across both files... if you are missing one of them, you are pretty much screwed unless you can recover them (either through the Recycle bin or a recovery program)

The thing that sucks about that backup interface is that even if you only have 1 file highlighted (think selected) it will backup to whatever files are listed, you have to remove any extra files if you want to backup to a single file.

Seeing that you removed SQL Server you can't just open the backup dialog again to see which files it went to

If you didn't delete all of the files in the backup directory, you should be okay, just need to find the other file

Any chance that you backed up those directories to tape before blowing them away?