SQL Restore Database

This section will explain the step-by-step approach for the SQL Server restore database procedure using the BAK file. For this Restore Database demonstration, we use the adventure works 2017 .bak.

SQL Restore Database using BAK File

In this example, we will use the BAK file to Restore the Database. The SQL server does not have the AdventureWorks2017 database.

TIP: Please refer to Backup for creating a backup and Maintenance Plan for making regular backups in Sql Server.

As you can see, the MDF and LDF corresponding to the Adventure Works 2017 is not there in C Drive

MDF and Log files in system hard drive 2

We have an Adventure Works Backup file in our D Drive, and we will use this bak to restore a database.

Choose or Select the BAK File from System Hard Drive 3

Syntax of the restore Database from the backup file

RESTORE DATABASE DatbaseName
	FROM DISK = 'D:\Backups\BackupFileName.bak'
	WITH MOVE 'LogicalMDFFileName' TO 'location\MDFFileName.mdf',
	MOVE 'LogicalLDFFileName' TO 'location\LDFFileName.ldf'

Let me use the above syntax to restore the Adventure Works.

RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks2017
	FROM DISK = 'D:\Backups\AdventureWorks2017.bak'
	WITH MOVE 'AdventureWorks2017' TO 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft ...........\DATA\AdventureWorks2017.mdf',
	MOVE 'AdventureWorks2017_log' TO 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft .........\DATA\AdventureWorks2017_log.ldf'

The query executes without any errors, and the db is attached successfully.

Now you can see the Adventure Works 2017

The above process has automatically added the MDF and LDF to the C Drive

Automatically saved MDF and LDF FIles in the File System 7

If you don’t know the logical names, then use the Restore File System to retrieve the Logical Filenames.

RESTORE FILELISTONLY 
	FROM DISK = 'D:\Backups\AdventureWorks2017.bak'