find, replace or remove password on tape

[jvf30]

here is the situation I have been dealing with, my server that hosts the backup exec software crashed on me and I have been trying to resurrect it with out any success. it looks like the integrated raid card hit the bucket. 

so I took a back up server, installed win 2k3 on it and installed backup exec 11d on it same as I had on my original server. the system can see my tape drive. I put in one of my recent tapes and tried to do a recovery it said there was nothing on it. I did an inventory job on it which completed successfully and then tried to run a catalog job.

it asked me for a password, I don't know this password as the original software was setup before years before I took over. as far as I can tell there is no documentation on the setup. I did call the person who I believe set it up and he did give me a few possibilities which failed

is there any way for me to by pass this password and get to restore the files on the tape?

I am also trying to get parts for the server that died to see if I can revive it and get then possible get what I need off of the hds on that server

[ZeRoC00L]

Unfortunately there is now way to 'work around' the password.

It should be a security issue if you could easily pass around a password protected tape.

[jvf30]

would the said password be saved some where within the job config files as the back up job was automated.

if I can get the old server up, may be I can find the password within them.

[Colin_Weaver]

You won't find the password in the logs or configuration in a way that you can read in plain text. However if you can resurrect the old backup Exec database and attach that into your server you should be able to restore from the tape using that database.

Also if this is a password (legacy style security) and not an encryption key then the data itself is not encrypted on the tape, just the tape header contains a password, in this situation a specialist data recovery company may be able to help.

If encrypted and the password(encryption key) is lost/unknown then you will need the bedb or no way back.