SQL Backup

Description

This page will describe the steps necessary to perform a manual SQL backup. Backups should be created before making any major changes to a database to ensure you can restore them if necessary:

Creating a backup with SQL 2005

1. Log onto the server that you need to create the backup on
2. Go to Start/Programs/Microsoft SQL Server 2005/SQL Server Management Studio
   
3. The first prompt will ask you to which server to connect to. Supply the proper information and hit <Connect>
4. Expand Databases
5. Right-click the database you wish to backup
6. Select Tasks/Backup
   
7. The following page will appear:
   
8. If anything appears in the Destination section as shown above, highlight the entry and hit remove.
   
9. When everything has been removed, select the <Add> button.
10. The following prompt will appear:
    
11. Select the elipses and browse to your preferred path and provide a detailed filename. Ensure that you have enough disk space free to hold the backup.
12. Press <OK> until you get back to this screen:
    
13. When everything is ready to be backed up, press <OK>
14. While the backup is executing you will see the progress in the bottom left hand corner as shown here:
    
15. When it is finished the following screen will appear:
    
16. Press <OK>
17. If done with SQL close out of the program, you're finished.