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Urgent: Restore Problem

I want to restore my database backup on another server. Unfortunately, i got the following error message:
The file on device ‘C;filename.bak’ is not a valid Microsoft Tape Format backup set. RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally. I am using SQL Server 2000(standard) and windows 2000.
Remove the ; and change it to a :<br /><br /><img src=’/community/emoticons/emotion-1.gif’ alt=’:)‘ /><br /><br />
Sorry. I am using Enterprise Manager to do the restore. It is C:, and i typed it wrong here. Thanks.
How did you take the backup? Was the file originaly backed up to a tape device on the sql server?
Try using T-SQL to restore your database, it’ll offer more flexibility and error reporting. See RESTORE DATABASE in Books Online. Below is the basic syntax.
RESTORE DATABASE Foo
FROM DISK = ‘C:filename.bak’
WITH RECOVERY
I did the backup using Enterprise Manager and put the backup on hard disk. On another server, i use the copy of the backup file to do the restore. I don’t know what could be wrong with my hard disk. Because if i did a test backup to floopy disk. and restore on another server, it is sucessful.
So, you fix it?
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Hi,<br />have you verify backup using restore verifyonly ?! or restore filelistonly ?! to very fy backup set ?! how much size of your db backup (because it fit on floppy )!<br /><br /><br /><img src=’/community/emoticons/emotion-1.gif’ alt=’:)‘ /><br />Regards<br /><br />Hemantgiri S. Goswami<br />[email protected]<br />"Humans don’t have Caliber to PASS TIME , Time it self Pass or Fail Humans" – by Hemantgiri S. Goswami<br />
So how small is the database to fit the database backup on a floppy! If so you can be easy of to create the script to rebuild the database, it is the easier way when you do not have any data to transfer. If not refer as suggested by Hemant to check and verify backup file state.
quote:Originally posted by Jenny I did the backup using Enterprise Manager and put the backup on hard disk. On another server, i use the copy of the backup file to do the restore. I don’t know what could be wrong with my hard disk. Because if i did a test backup to floopy disk. and restore on another server, it is sucessful.

Satya SKJ
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It is still not sovled yet. Backup to a floppy is a test: i created a dummy database without data and then backup to a floopy. I tried restore verifyonly and got the same error message. My boss just mentioned to me we used netlib on our production database, do u think that might cause the problem? Anyway, thanks you all for your input.
Don’t use a floppy, go to disk instead, see if that makes a difference.
The net-libraries is the first layer of communication for SQL Server to connect, if you are able to connect to the SQL SErver then this is not a problem at all. I would like to refer this KBAhttp://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=905616 where it refers to the tape backup but for your information sake. So check as per Haywood’s reference and ensure the account has required privileges to backup/restore. Satya SKJ
Contributing Editor & Forums Moderator
http://www.SQL-Server-Performance.Com
This posting is provided “AS IS” with no rights for the sake of knowledge sharing.
Thanks everybody for your input. I have figured out: The reason is the backup has been encrypted. I joined the company not too long ago, and don’t know they did encryption for the database. So after i decrypted the backup, the restore went smoothly.
Hi,
thank for confirming that your issue is been resolved now. Hemantgiri S. Goswami
[email protected]
"Humans don’t have Caliber to PASS TIME , Time it self Pass or Fail Humans" – by Hemantgiri S. Goswami

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