How to restore a differential database backup (Enterprise Manager)

Note If you are restoring a differential database backup that does not have any backup set information listed in the backup history stored in the msdb database, such as a differential database backup created on another server, see How to restore a backup from a backup device.

Using the backup history stored in the msdb database, SQL Server Enterprise Manager, by default, automatically allows you to restore the differential database backup and preceding database backup in a single step.

To restore a differential database backup

1. Expand a server group; then expand a server.
2. Expand Databases, right-click the database, point to All Tasks, and then click Restore Database.
3. In Restore as database, enter or select the name of the database to restore if different from the default displayed.
4. On the General tab, click Database.
5. In the First backup to restore list, select the backup set to restore.
6. Click the database backup and/or differential backup to restore in the Restore list.
7. On the Options tab, select:
   • Leave database operational. No additional transaction logs can be restored if no further transaction log backups are to be applied.
   • Leave database nonoperational, but able to restore additional transaction logs if another transaction log backup is to be applied.

See Also