Restoring SQL Server 2000 database on

Question

I have a database that I developed in ms sql 2000 and I want to restore it to the latest version of sql server express.  How do I do that if I don't have a copy of ms sql server 2000?  Or how do I get a copy of ms sql server 2000?  I really just want to restore the database in in the latest sql server express.  Are there any tools or any way that people know how to restore the bak file?

Answer 1

Hi Ssalongo,

Actually, there is no workaround to upgrading a database directly from 2000 to lastest version of SQL Server.

If you don't have a ton of data, you could have a try with below methods:
1.Import/Export wizard
2.SSIS
3.BCP
4.Manual queries using a linked server from lastest version of SQL Server or an application.

It would be worthwhile to just put up an intermediate instance temporarily and then do two backup+restore operations - which will be easier, faster, and less error-prone than any of the above methods.

If your databases are smaller than 10GB, you could install a copy of Express in a few minutes, and use that. You can download 2008 R2 Express. Then upgrade to later version like 2017 express and finally even 2019 express  which is the lastest one.

The route could be 2000->2008 R2->2012/2014/2016/2017->2019.

Please refer below links for more details:

Migrate from SQL Server 2000 to 2012 without a 2005 or 2008 instance

Restore backup db made in SQL server 2000 to 2014

Best regards,

Melissa

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Answer 2

I have a database that I developed in ms sql 2000 and I want to restore it to the latest version of sql server express.  How do I do that if I don't have a copy of ms sql server 2000?  Or how do I get a copy of ms sql server 2000?  I really just want to restore the database in in the latest sql server express.  Are there any tools or any way that people know how to restore the bak file?

You don't need an instance of SQL 2000, but you need at least SQL 2008, because that is the latest version that accepts backups from SQL 2000. And it seems that you are lucky, Microsoft still has the download of SQL 2008 Express available:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=1695

Once you have restored the database on SQL 2008, back it up again, and then you can restore that backup on SQL 2019.

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Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, [e-mail]

Answer 3

Hi Ssalongo,

Could you please provide any update about this?

 

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped. Your action would be helpful to other users who encounter the same issue and read this thread. 

 

Thank you for understanding!

 

 

 

Best regards,

Melissa

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MSDN Community Support

Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" the responses that resolved your issue, and to click "Unmark as Answer" if not. This can be beneficial to other community members reading this thread. If you have any compliments or complaints to  MSDN Support, feel free to contact [e-mail]