The most practical solution I would do (n) times:  (n=VEREXISTS)

create a null file
back it up to adsm
delete the file

And then one last backup.  So the last version of the null file gets marked
inactive.

There have been numerous questions on the list about how to read adsm storage
tapes without a corresponding ADSM db, and I have not seen anyway that could be
done.  I believe ADSM writes tapes in variable length blocks, and your files are
located 'somewhere' in the storage pool hence the critical need for the DB.

Unless one write some dump utility to dump every tape and then wade throught the
output, chances of finding the data are exremely rare at best.

My $.02 worth.

Al Barth
Scudder Kemper Investments