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sql-server

SQL Server database backup restore on lower version

How to restore a higher version SQL Server database backup file onto a lower version SQL Server?

Using SQL Server 2008 R2 (10.50.1600), I made a backup file and now I want to restore it on my live server's SQL Server 2008 (10.00.1600).

When I tried to restore the backup onto SQL Server 2008 it gives an error i.e. Restore Failed because:

The database was backed up on a server running version 10.50.1600. That version is incompatible with this server, which is running version 10.00.1600.

How do I restore the backup file on this server?

Solution

  • No, is not possible to downgrade a database. 10.50.1600 is the SQL Server 2008 R2 version. There is absolutely no way you can restore or attach this database to the SQL Server 2008 instance you are trying to restore on (10.00.1600 is SQL Server 2008). Your only options are:

    • upgrade this instance to SQL Server 2008 R2 or
    • restore the backup you have on a SQL Server 2008 R2 instance, export all the data and import it on a SQL Server 2008 database.