[LorenzoUK]

Hi

I am doing some private work for a client who sent me a .bak file which is a backup file from an sql database.

I have sql server management studio installed which when I am connected to my office automatically connects to a datawarehouse over a network.

I have the .bak file stored locally and dont think I have sql server management studio connected to a localhost.

I am struggling in opening this file and I need to eventually get the data into excel.

I am a novice using SQL and can do basic queries.

Please can someone help me with advising me on how I do restore the backup ito sql server management studio?

Thank you.

[Stig]

You restore the bak file into the default instance in Management Studio.

I don't know much more about SQL than you do, but I know how to use Google!

[whoever,hey]

Why would you restore SQL into a spreadsheet?

[LorenzoUK]

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

Why would you restore SQL into a spreadsheet?

no, i would like the output from the restored database to be in excel once it has opened in sql, i can pull the data and then extract to excel.

Also, I have just intalled sql server 2005 express onto my other laptop and all I can see is configuration tools and not the programme to open up and connect to a database.

Any ideas?

[IvanIV]

You open SQL Management studio, connect to an instance of an SQL Server.Then one of the tasks you can perform is Restore a database, use a name that does not exist yet. You will need a version of the server at least the same or newer as is the backed up database.

[LorenzoUK]

Originally Posted by IvanIV

You open SQL Management studio, connect to an instance of an SQL Server.Then one of the tasks you can perform is Restore a database, use a name that does not exist yet. You will need a version of the server at least the same or newer as is the backed up database.

Thanks for the info. The problem I have is i cant connect to an instance on my work sql server. How do I do this on express 2005 on my home laptop?

[IvanIV]

Originally Posted by LorenzoUK

Thanks for the info. The problem I have is i cant connect to an instance on my work sql server. How do I do this on express 2005 on my home laptop?

Do you have this?

http://www.microsoft.com/en-US/downl...s.aspx?id=8961

It looks like it comes separately for SQL express edition. When you start it you connect to database engine and then you can manage the server.

You should be able to connect with your work server as well if you know the server (and instance) name, administrator login and password. Then the backup file must be stored locally on the server where you want to restore it.

[LorenzoUK]

Originally Posted by IvanIV

Do you have this?

http://www.microsoft.com/en-US/downl...s.aspx?id=8961

It looks like it comes separately for SQL express edition. When you start it you connect to database engine and then you can manage the server.

You should be able to connect with your work server as well if you know the server (and instance) name, administrator login and password. Then the backup file must be stored locally on the server where you want to restore it.

This is one i downloaded

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl....aspx?id=21844 the 53mb one. I will d/load the one you suggest and uninstall my one.

The one on my work laptop I dont have the laptop admin username/password as its locked down by the IT dept.

[irishguy]

Originally Posted by LorenzoUK

This is one i downloaded

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl....aspx?id=21844 the 53mb one. I will d/load the one you suggest and uninstall my one.

The one on my work laptop I dont have the laptop admin username/password as its locked down by the IT dept.

The download link you posted is for the actual database engine itself.

Ivan's link is for the tools to allow you to manage the engine - ie. to backup and restore, create databases and run queries. You need both so don't uninstall your download

[IvanIV]

^^^ Yes, you need both.

[irishguy]

I was going to suggest you download SSMS 2012... but its a monster 600MBs, compared to SSMS 2005's 40MB. Intellisense must need a lot of coding!

[LorenzoUK]

Originally Posted by irishguy

The download link you posted is for the actual database engine itself.

Ivan's link is for the tools to allow you to manage the engine - ie. to backup and restore, create databases and run queries. You need both so don't uninstall your download

Thankyou both. I will install the 2nd one also. So hopefully then i can just restore the file.

[irishguy]

As long as the bak file was created by a SQL 2005 or 2000 database

[LorenzoUK]

I am not sure. How will i know.

[IvanIV]

Originally Posted by LorenzoUK

I am not sure. How will i know.

It will tell you it cannot restore the file. Then you need to remove it all and install SQL 2008 R2 Express. I doubt they use 2012 already.

[irishguy]

It will throw some sort of 'invalid file/media' type error message if you try to restore a bak file from a newer version of SQL Server onto an older version... they're not backwards compatible.

[LorenzoUK]

Originally Posted by IvanIV

It will tell you it cannot restore the file. Then you need to remove it all and install SQL 2008 R2 Express. I doubt they use 2012 already.

Thankyou for all the help here chaps.
Does the 2008 r2 version contain both downloads and i assume its free?

[irishguy]

Originally Posted by IvanIV

It will tell you it cannot restore the file. Then you need to remove it all and install SQL 2008 R2 Express. I doubt they use 2012 already.

Might be easier to just install 2012 though just in case... Even a 2000 bak file will restore onto that...

[irishguy]

Originally Posted by LorenzoUK

Thankyou for all the help here chaps.
Does the 2008 r2 version contain both downloads and i assume its free?

Heres a link to the 2012 download... all free.

But try to restore it to your 2005 first... you may as well try it now you've got it installed.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl....aspx?id=29062

[LorenzoUK]

Originally Posted by irishguy

Might be easier to just install 2012 though just in case... Even a 2000 bak file will restore onto that...

Thanks. Do you have a link to the file that will install everything i need?

[SnrDev]

Install SSMS, create a new DB on there with the same name as the DB in the .bak file, then restore that with overwrite mode on. If the bak is from a later version you have no option (you do but it's a lot of effort) so will have to install a newer version of SSMS.

[LorenzoUK]

i installed the xtra bit for 2005 and it didnt restore it. So I unstalled it and now going to try the 2008 version. I have xp service pack 3. I cant find the correct links to download similar to that i had for 2005.

Any links will be most helpful.
Thanks

[c4rv]

You won't be able to install 2012 on windows XP, it needs Vista or above.

you can download 2008 R2 express here,
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl....aspx?id=30438

And management studio here,
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl....aspx?id=22985

[LorenzoUK]

Originally Posted by c4rv

You won't be able to install 2012 on windows XP, it needs Vista or above.

you can download 2008 R2 express here,
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl....aspx?id=30438

And management studio here,
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl....aspx?id=22985

Thank you. Do I need both of these?

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by LorenzoUK

Thank you. Do I need both of these?

yes, same as 2005 one is the engine the other is the management tools