Erase or Format fails with the following message

CA ARCserve Backup 
--------------------------- 
Device <> Erase failed! Database operation fails.

Errors noted in ARCserve activity log

E8021 Failed to erase media in slot: <> (EC=Database operation fails.) 
E8022 Failed to format media in slot: <> (EC=Database operation fails.)

These errors indicate that CA ARCserve system account unable to update/modify the ARCserve database.

This usually happens if CA ARCserve system account doesn't have enough privileges to modify the ARCserve database, or has only read only permissions on the ARCserve database.

Solution:

Download and install SQL Server Management Studio Express

A free easy-to-use graphical management tool for managing SQL Server 2005
Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express 2005

Run Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio with elevated Administrator permissions

Provide 'sysadmin' server role for CA ARCserve system account using SQL Server Management Studio.

To provide permissions for CA ARCserve system account (Windows Domain account) follow the steps below

  1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to SQL Server 2005, right-click SQL Server Management Studio, and then click Run as administrator. The User Account Control dialog box appears. 

    Figure 1

    Note: If you do not log on to the computer as an administrator, you are prompted to provide the administrator account. When you are prompted to provide the administrator account, type the administrator user name and password in the User Account Control dialog box. Then, click OK. 

  2. Open SQL Server Management Studio, and then connect to the instance of SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.

  3. Add the account that you want to use to the SysAdmin fixed server role. To do this, follow these steps:

    • Click Security.
    • Right-click Logins, and then click New Login.
    • In the Login-New dialog box, type the user name of the Windows user account in the Login name box.
    • Click Server Roles.
    • Click to select the sysadmin check box.

      Figure 2 

      Check CA ARCserve system account has Database owner (dbo) rights on ARCserve databases

      Figure 3

      If the user doesn't have enough permissions to provide sysadmin server role to CA ARCserve System account,
      Following error comes on SQL Management Studio:

      TITLE: Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express
      ------------------------------
      Add member failed for ServerRole 'sysadmin'. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Express.Smo)
      ------------------------------
      ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
      An exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Express.ConnectionInfo)
      ------------------------------
      User does not have permission to perform this action. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 15247)

      Figure 4 

      To overcome this error Login with Domain Administrator account and Run SQL Management Studio with Elevated Administrator rights.

      To know more about User Account Control (UAC) Windows Server 2008 refer links: 
      http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772207(WS.10).aspx 

      http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc280562.aspx