SQL Server 2005: How To Restore a Database from a Backup

Contributor Icon Contributed by shamanstears Date Icon February 7, 2007  
Tag Icon Tagged: Database  

Your database is down, your users are in a panic, what do you do?. If you have been performing routine backups of your database, you can restore it to the point of the most recent backup. To restore your database, follow these steps:


1. Open SQL Server 2005 Management Studio.

2. Connect to the appropriate server.

3. Expand Databases.

4. Right-click the desired database, mouseover Tasks, mouseover Restore and select Database.

5. The Restore Database window will appear.

6. Ensure that the correct database name appears in the To database field. If not, select it from the dropdown.

7. Under Source for restore, select the From device radio button.

8. Click the button next to the textbox to select the device to restore from.

9. The Specify Backup window will appear.

10. Click Add and locate and select the backup file from the Locate Backup File Window. Click OK.

11. Under Select the backup sets to restore, select all three backups (full, transaction log, and differential).

12. In the left pane, select Options.

13. Under Recovery state, ensure that the Restore with Recovery radio button is selected.

14. Click OK to begin restoring the database.

15. Once the restore is complete, a notification box will appear. Click OK to close the box. You have now restored your database to the most recent state.

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  • Anonymous

    Hi all,

    Am having the backup data in my network drive(X:) I want to restore the data from that drive. I followed the same process what u mentioned in the forum.

    After clicking the add button in the specify backup window it shows only my local disks and removable devices not showing the network drive(x:)

    Is there any option to map the data from the network drive…

  • Anonymous

    Hi all,

    Am having the backup data in my network drive(X:) I want to restore the data from that drive. I followed the same process what u mentioned in the forum.

    After clicking the add button in the specify backup window it shows only my local disks and removable devices not showing the network drive(x:)

    Is there any option to map the data from the network drive…

  • Hi all,

    Am having the backup data in my network drive(X:) I want to restore the data from that drive. I followed the same process what u mentioned in the forum.

    After clicking the add button in the specify backup window it shows only my local disks and removable devices not showing the network drive(x:)

    Is there any option to map the data from the network drive…

  • umesh

    I taken backup of database from Sql server 2005 from other PC and try to Restore it on my PC. Both having Windows authentication. But i am facing following error

    System.Data.Sqlclient.sqlError:The media set has 2 media families but only 1 are provided.All member must be provided.(Microsoft.Sqlserver.Smo).

    IS it problem of Ownar . because owanr of .bak file is different from where i try to restore it.

  • sundar

    hello sir/madam,

    i have stored mdf file and ldf file in dotnet solution file. i have copied my project from another system. i have to restore the database inorder to run my dotnet project.
    i have followed your procedure, but when i click the ok button, it shows error.

    please help me….

  • Himanshu

    Hi,
    This is not the problem of owner, it is just because while selecting the restoring device there must be two paths (1. Default by Microsoft, 2. Given by you).
    So delete the default path given by SQL Server itself, so it remains only one path that is given by you.
    Do let me know in case this doesn't work also
    Regards,
    Himanshu

  • How To attach database sql

    mdf and ldf files are not sql2005 based.. its sql 2000.. so install that and not need to restore.. you right click the database in enterprise manager in sql2000..attach the MDF file from location.. then run the program

  • Shamsul

    Great step by step guidance. Worked a treat for me who is a complete novice

  • Osmar Mateus

    I need to restore my database to a new location (we are moving to another server).

    What do I have to do in this case?

    Thanks

  • Sunil

    Really This was very helpfull to me.
    Thank You!!
    Thank You very much

  • http://www.akalinfosys.com/ R Biswas

    I have tried the above steps but didnt work out. I have 2 database servers, one with SQL Server ver 7.0 and other with SQL Server 2005. Can anyone help me out how to restore the backup file (.BAK) from the SQL Server 7.0 to SQL Server 2005 database other than using the above steps, as that didnt work and showed a versoion conflict error.

  • David Collins

    What if the Specify Backup window remains blank after you have already selected the .bak file in the previous screen. With it being blank, you are unable to restore.
    Any ideas?

  • http://www.etalon-jenavi.org/ Jeff

    Hello!
    How to restore with old name of PC and instances?

  • ghostdbadm

    How about restoring the back up created in SQL server 2005 and then restoring it in SQL Server 2008?

    Can some one post the steps for performing the above task.

    Thank you in advance.

  • rochellegrisar

    Are the steps the same if the backup was done in SQL Server 2000?

  • cse

    hi,iam having a .bak file with size 2323KB.when i try to restore it
    the error msg comes like “to many backup devices specified for backup or restore;
    only 64 are allowed.restore database is terminating abnormally.”
    how can i restore it in sql2005.
    thank u in advance.

  • nhiel

    i need to restore my database in sql server 2005 and as i follow the procedure above there still an error. it shows this:

    “system.data.sqlclient.sqlerror:directory lookup the file C:program filesmicrosoft sql serverMSSQLDATASTUDENTS INFOREMATION.MDF failed with the operating system error 3(the system cannot findthe path specified.).(microsoft.sqlserver.express.smo)”

    im using windows 7 and visual studio 2008

    can someone help me regards this matter.

    tnx..

  • sanesh

    i do the same but one eror s came like
    “the database s in use”

  • Thanks

    Thank you very much it works

  • Grinathela 1983

    Hi i have restored database using backup file(.bak) .But it shows me error as ” Restore failure at server(Microsoft.sqlserver.smo) .How to avoid that error and restore my database .

  • Grinathela 1983

    Hi i have restored database using backup file(.bak) .But it shows me error as ” Restore failure at server(Microsoft.sqlserver.smo) .How to avoid that error and restore my database .

  • Mithun

    Hi
    i have a problem in restoring database in sql server managnebt studio 2005 when i restoring….. the window wil automatical close…… plz help me to restore….

  • priya jose

    while i am restoring my database backup i got the following message
    “System.Data.SqlError: the media set has 2 media families but only 1 are provided.All members must be provided.”
    can you please help me??

  • Sohaib

    hi,iam having a .bak file with size 2323KB.when i try to restore it
    the error msg comes like “to many backup devices specified for backup or restore;
    only 64 are allowed.restore database is terminating abnormally.”
    how can i restore it in sql2000.
    thank u in advance.
    Regards
    Sohaib

  • 33ranjith

    hai,
    i used sql server 2005 in windows 7 to take backup.. Now i want to restore the database backup file in sql server 2005 in windows xp sp2…

    Plz some body help to me
    with regards
    Ranjith Daniel

  • ntn

    Me too!
    I brought my bak file (file A) to other PC, error the same while other bak file (file B) using to restore nomal. Now, i want using database from file A, but restore error.
    Please help me!

  • Kundanravi

    i want to restore more than one backup can u help me

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