More about database maintenance

Restore

Note: please refer to SQL Server Books Online for more information regarding this topic.

Overview of restore

To restore a database or a differential backup, you use the LOAD/RESTORE DATABASE command. To restore a log backup, use the LOAD TRANSACTION/RESTORE LOG command. The log backups have to be restored in the same sequence as they were created.

Restore in SQL Enterprise Manager

SQL Enterprise Managers Backup/Restore dialog helps to perform restore. It does so by reading the backup history tables in the msdb database.

The dialog presents a number of database and transaction backups, and defaults to the most recent database and transaction log backups.

If you choose Restore Now, the tables will be read and the restores will be executed, in sequence.

Note, however, that the backup tables do not necessarily match what's on the actual backup device(s). If you have overwritten or deleted (by mistake, possibly) a backup device, the corresponding backup will still be presented in this dialog.