• Yes, you need to remove TDE from the database, and don't forget to truncate the Tlog.

    I had to do something similar. it was a nightmare!

    1- make sure it's on FULL recovery

    2- Remove TDE

    3- Truncate the Tlog. As in... try to recreate it. I actually had to switch to SIMPLE Mode, shink, and then switch back to FULL

    4- take a full backup, which should be unencryted

    If you see errors like

    80 percent processed

    90 percent processed

    100 percent processed

    Process XXX pages for database... blah blah

    MS33111, Level 16, State 3, line 2

    cannot find server certificate blah bah

    MS33111, Level 16, State 1, line 2

    The file "<databasename>_log" failed to initialized correctly...

    MS33111, Level 16, State 1, line 2

    RESTORE DATABASE terminated abnormally

    it means that the Data file is decrypted, but not the Tlog.

    http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Security/76141/