As a Java developer, you may have limited knowledge of SQL Server, but understanding the concepts of backup and restore is essential for managing databases effectively. In this article, we will explore a common issue faced during the restore process and discuss possible causes and solutions.

One of my blog readers recently reached out to me with a problem. They were trying to restore a SQL Server 2008 database onto their SQL Server 2012 instance but kept encountering the error message “No backupset selected to be restored.” They shared a screenshot of their SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) window, which showed the error message.

There are a few possible reasons for this error:

1. Backup is Corrupted or Unreadable

The first possibility is that the backup file itself is corrupted or unreadable. To confirm this, you can run the following command:

RESTORE HEADERONLY FROM DISK='complete path to backup file'

If the backup is indeed corrupted, the output of this command will not display the complete details of the backup file. In such cases, taking a fresh backup from the source database should resolve the issue.

2. Restore to Lower Version

Another reason for the error message is attempting to restore a backup taken on a higher version of SQL Server to a lower version. SQL Server does not support restoring backups from higher versions to lower versions. In this case, you will need to find a compatible version of SQL Server to restore the backup.

It is important to note that SQL Server provides backward compatibility, meaning you can restore a backup from an older version to a newer version of SQL Server. However, the reverse is not possible.

After discussing these possible causes with my reader, they confirmed that their backup was indeed corrupted and unreadable. Once they took a fresh backup from the source database, they were able to successfully restore it without any issues.

If you have encountered a similar error during the backup and restore process, I encourage you to share your experience in the comments section below. It is through these interactions that we can learn from each other and enhance our understanding of SQL Server.