This is a half-guide to copy a Microsoft SQL database from a server to another server. Why half? I’ll explain that later.

Two really easy way to do this is by 1) doing an Attach/Detach database commands, and 2) through Backup/Restore. I am explaining the second method, because what I have at hand right now is exactly that situation.

Ok, I already have a backup file from the source server copied somewhere into the distination server machine. So I’ll start from here. This is why I call this a “half-guide”. It starts from halfway, the restore part only :)

1) From the SQL Server Enterprise Manager, find the “Restore Database” either from the main menu “Tools > Restore Database…”, or by right-clicking the Databases folder and choosing “All Tasks > Restore Database…”.

2) In the Restore Database dialog, pick a name where you want to restore the database as. And then choose to restore “From Device”. Click the “Select Device” button to select the device (duuuuh :).

3) Then, this is where you choose the backup file that you wanted to restore. Click “Add” and locate the file. SQL Server backup files is saved with “.BAK” extension. Click OK when you finish selecting.

4) Back in the Restore Database dialog, in the “Options” tab page, choose the path that you want the database files to be restored as. And the finally click OK.

Done. Just sit and wait until the progress bar filled up. I’ll leave the other part for you to Google with. Attaching and Detaching database is even easier, you may want to try that as well.