How to restore files and filegroups over existing files (Transact-SQL)

To restore files and filegroups over existing files

Important The system administrator restoring the files and filegroups must be the only person currently using the database to be restored.

1. Execute the RESTORE DATABASE statement to restore the file and filegroup backup, specifying:
   • The name of the database to restore.
   • The backup device from where the database backup will be restored.
   • The FILE clause for each file to restore.
   • The FILEGROUP clause for each filegroup to restore.
   • The REPLACE clause to specify that each file can be restored over existing files of the same name and location.
   • The NORECOVERY clause. If the files have not been modified after the backup was created, specify the RECOVERY clause.
2. If the files have been modified after the file backup was created, execute the RESTORE LOG statement to apply the transaction log backup, specifying:
   • The name of the database to which the transaction log will be applied.
   • The backup device from where the transaction log backup will be restored.
   • The NORECOVERY clause if you have another transaction log backup to apply after the current one; otherwise, specify the RECOVERY clause.

     The transaction log backups, if applied, must cover the time when the files and filegroups were backed up.

Examples

This example restores the files and filegroups for the MyNwind database, and replaces any existing files of the same name. Two transaction logs will also be applied to restore the database to the current time.

USE master

GO

-- Restore the files and filesgroups for MyNwind.

RESTORE DATABASE MyNwind

    FILE = 'MyNwind_data_1',

    FILEGROUP = 'new_customers',
    FILE = 'MyNwind_data_2',

    FILEGROUP = 'first_qtr_sales'

    FROM MyNwind_1

    WITH NORECOVERY,

    REPLACE

GO

-- Apply the first transaction log backup.

RESTORE LOG MyNwind
    FROM MyNwind_log1

    WITH NORECOVERY

GO

-- Apply the last transaction log backup.

RESTORE LOG MyNwind
    FROM MyNwind_log2

    WITH RECOVERY

GO

See Also