Restore SQL Server 2008 DB *to* SQL Server 2005 - sql-server-2005

Got myself in a bit of a pickle here ... working on a CMS project, under the assumption that sql server 2008 was greenlighted as the db of choice. Well it wasn't, we now have to backport all of our content out SQL Server 2008 and into SQL Server 2005.
A simple backup/restore procedure yields: "RESTORE HEADERONLY is terminating abnormally. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 3241)".
Unfortunately, exporting the data to an excel spreadsheet yields multiple OLE errors which I believe is actually a problem in the db of the cms.
Does anyone out there have other approaches they would like to recommend for this task? Thanks in advance

Use RedGate:
tool for comparing and deploying SQL Server database contents.
You can work with live databases, backups, or SQL scripts in source control. Damaged or missing data can be restored to a single row, without the need for a full database recovery.
SQL Data Compare helps you compare and deploy changes quickly, simply, and with zero errors...

There is no way to do this by default. You can generate scripts for 2008 database on 2008 server and then execute these scripts on 2005 version. Note that you’ll have to manually review scripts and remove all parts that are unique to 2008 version.
Another way is to use third party tools such as Red Gate or ApexSQL Diff (move schema) and ApexSQL Data Diff (move data).

Use the Generate SCripts to create the database and schema and ensure you target SQL Server 2005 and script data.

Rather than do a backup and restore you might try using SQL 2005's Import/Export Data wizard.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314546
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms140052(SQL.90).aspx

I've just hit the same problem and here is how I worked around it.
The problem was to copy a database from an operational SQL Server 2008 database to a new SQL Server 2005 database.
I scripted the database using Management Studio on the 2008 server. I only scripted the database design, not the data. I should add also that the DB only has tables and indexes, so I haven't tried this with any cleverer objects although I can't think why they wouldn't work.
On the 2005 server I created a new database by hand and then ran the script to set up all the tables and indexes.
The in Management Studio back on the 2008 server I used the Export Data wizard to export the data from the 2008 server to the 2005 server. It's currently running and seems quite happy moving the data.
Once all the data is across I'll have a couple of small things left to do - create the users and set-up the security in the 2005 DB, but all-in-all it doesn't look like a bad way of doing it. It's not quite point-and-click but it's not too strenuous.
So it seems that the Copy Database wizard won't work (I think because the package ultimately runs on the 2005 server and 2005 Management Studio can't talk to 2008) but the Export Data wizard is quite happy moving data ... as long as the DB already exists on the target server.
Hope that's useful.

It's not possible to restore to previous versions in SQL Server
Is there no SQL 2005 backup around? Otherwise you really are limited to export the entire database in 2008, and re-import back into 2005, or the Import/Export wizard in 2008
Or rely on 3rd party tools. e.g. Red Gate Data Compare is able to sync. the DATA between 2 servers/databases

I only use mysql but can you export your data into sql statments, and then import then into sql2005? Just a thought..

I faced a similar problem (sql 2005 to sql 2000), and found that I happened to have a blank database at the older version. I used bcp.exe to copy all the data.

check this link click here
You can create the database script in sql server 2008 and you can use it sql server 2005 and lower version....

Related

How do I migrate the SQL server data to an older engine?

Here's my current dilemma: I need to migrate the database, including the data, from SQL server version 13 to version 12. The source is on an Azure box and the destination is on my local box. I can't install SQL server 2016 on my local box; that isn't an option. How do I do this?
I would recommend you to use SQL Database Migration Wizard
Can you try using SqlPackage to Export the Azure database?
I've recently done the opposite of you, exporting SQL Server 2012 databases to Azure SQL V12. I used a combination of SqlPackage and Visual Studio with SQL Server Data Tools.
Basically I made a SQL Project based on the source databases (SQL Server 2012 hosted), set the target platform to Microsoft Azure SQL V12 and fixed any errors and warnings that wasn't supported in Azure SQL V12.
I then did a schema compare between the source database and the SQL Project. With this I generated a script which I ran against a copy of the source database.
Lastly I used SqlPackage to make a .bacpac from the database I ran the script against, which I could then deploy to Azure.
If you do the opposite maybe it'll work. It is important that when working with Azure SQL that you have updated software.
It seems that the answer is in insert scripts, which I didn't realize was a thing. There's good information at How to generate an INSERT script for an existing SQL Server table that includes all stored rows?
Edit: Another answer says NOT to generate INSERT scripts to copy all the data from a DB. I tried it and it seemed to fail because of some truncation in the script itself (it ended up being over 11 GB). A developer I'm working with suggested the bcp utility (documentation at this link), which I have not yet tried.

How can I restore a database backup file (.bak) from SQL Server 2012 into SQL Server 2008 Express?

A database that was originally from SQL Server 2008, was restored into SQL Server 2012. A backup from SQL Server 2012 was made and I am trying to restore it on my local SQL Server 2008 Express. However I get an error 'Specified cast is not valid' (SQLManagerUI).
I have generated an SQL Script from 2012 and set it so that it will generate with compatibility to SQL Server 2008. However it is a large sql file, around 700mb.
I recall before that I had tried to run a script of that size before on my local SQLExpress and also got an error.
Is there a way I can get a "large" database from SQL Server 2012 into SQL Server 2008 Express?
Thanks to Marc and Aaron for providing the answers.
The quick answer is no, it's not possible to restore a backup file from a higher version to a lower version of SQL Server.
A work around would be to generate the scripts to create the database.
You can target the script generation to a lower version.
Please see comments above for more information.
Links:
Why an SQL Server Database from a higher version cannot be restored onto a lower version of SQL Server?
Create Database in SQL Server 2012, Script and Use in 2008?
Couple things to add that might be helpful to folks
When scripting large databases using scripting wizard in SSMS it’s really important to check the execution order and be willing to re arrange it manually. Older versions of SSMS had this problem because they (probably) relied on sp_depends that has a bug.
What I’ve found really useful in such cases are tools like ApexSQL Diff that you can use to read database backups and generate scripts that are in correct execution order.
SQL Server database backup restore on lower version
One thing that none of the methods will catch is the thing Aaron mentioned about using functions specific to higher version.
A better option than using the SSMS scripting wizard is to use a similar tool available on Codeplex called SQL Database Migration Wizard - http://sqlazuremw.codeplex.com/releases/view/32334. You want the latest version v4.x to work with SQL Server 2012.
The tool is originally intended to be used for migrating databases between SQL Server and Azure. However the tool works just as well as between SQL Server and SQL Server. The trick is to set SQL Server rather than Azure as the target in the advanced options.
The reason this is a better option than the SSMS scripting wizard is that it uses BCP for the data transfer rather than TSQL and so is much more efficient.

backing up sql database from microsoft sql server

i just want to ask if how can i backup my database from sql server 2005 using sql server management studio express? i want a backup it using sql file (.sql and not .bak or .mdf) from creating database (if not exist), tables and even the records on the table..thanks in advance :)
This is not possible with one command. You can script single objects, but I'm not aware of a way to do this in SSMS. We use SQL Compare from redgate here - it's pretty great.
You can try powershell.
Docs here.

Move database from sql server 2008 to 2005

I have a database currently in SQL Server 2008 to be moved to SQL Server 2005. I would like to backup the 2008 db to a bak file and import it to 2005, but couldn't find any options in SSMS 2008 while taking backup. Has anyone had a similar need in the past? How did you manage this through?
To restore the backup to an older version of SQL Server you can use third party tools, ApexSQL Diff and ApexSQL Data Diff.
You can read detailed explanation of the process in this article: Restoring SQL Server database backup to an older version of SQL Server
Hope this helps
Disclaimer: I work for ApexSQL as a Support Engineer
You could try the Publish Database Wizard.
From the link:
The source database must be on an instance of SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, or SQL Server 2008. The target database must be on an instance of SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, or SQL Server 2008.
I don't think you can restore 2008 backup on 2005 server. Try 3rd party schema/data migration tool, like SQL Examiner Suite or RedGate's SQL Compare
You cannot do this. You never could restore a more recent SQL Server database to an older version.
Your only option is to script out the data you need to insert, or use a data comparison tool like Red-Gate SQL Data Compare to compare the two databases (and update your older one from the newer). SQL Data Compare will also work comparing a backup (any version) to a live database on a server.
It's easier than that, since (assuming your db isn't using any 2008-only features) they use the same format (*.mdf). Simply detach your database from your 2008 server, copy the mdf file to the 2005 server, and attach the copy to the 2005 server. Look for the Attach/Detach option when you right click on a database in sql server management studio.

Convert SQL Server Database from 2005 to 2000

We have a Microsoft SQL Server 2005 database that needs to be converted back to SQL Server 2000. Does anybody have any suggestions on the approach or tools I should use to perform this conversion? We don't utilise any SQL Server 2005 specific features in the database so this should not make the conversion problematic.
I should mention that I have found the Microsoft SQL Server Export facility very buggy in dealing with Auto Generated Keys so suggestions for alternative tools would be appreciated.
Generate a full script for your database in SQL2005, and change the "Script for Server Version" option to SQL Server 2000. You can now recreate your database on the SQL 2000 server. After this is complete, use the export data feature to export from SQL 2005 to SQL 2000.
Get a trial of RedGate SQL ToolBelt, then use:
SQL Compare to transfer the database
SQL Data Compare to transfer the data
Script out the entire database
Create a new SQL2000 database
Run the script on the new database
Import the data from the SQL2005 to the SQL2000 database (lots of ways to do this)
There probably is a tool somewhere that does all this for you, although I don't know how commonly this is done.
What you want to do is called downgrading. Google gives lots of results, but here's a good walkthrough on a thread of Microsoft's forums (scroll down near the bottom of the page).