Is there a way to restore a database to a newer version?
However, there is a way to restore a database to a newer SQL Server version. If there is access to the live database backup was taken from: Start SQL Server Management Studio and connect to the instance where the database resides
How do I restore a SQL Server database to a script?
In the Advanced Scripting Options window that will appear: Specify the version of the SQL Server you need the database restored to in the Script for Server Version option. In the Script for Server Version option, specify Schema and data. Set the following options to True: Script Logins. Script Full-Text Indexes.
How do I upgrade to SQL Server 2008 from 2008?
Insert SQL server installation media and run the Setup.exe file from the root folder. The SQL Server Installation Center will begin. If you want to upgrade from an existing instance of SQL server, select Installation from the left, and then click Upgrade from SQL Server 2008.
What is the best version of SQL Server to use?
Because SQL Server 2016 is the version that the majority of us are using, then it would be the natural choice for you too. Some attractive features of the advanced SQL Server 2016 are: There are some exclusive advantages of migration SQL Server 2008 to 2016 as given below:

Can you restore a SQL 2008 database to SQL 2019?
Backup and restore. A backup taken on SQL Server 2008 and later, can be restored to SQL Server 2019 (15. x) without changing its compatibility level, as long as the database backup has a compatibility level of 100 or higher.
Can you restore a SQL 2008 database to SQL 2017?
Yes, SQL Server is backward compatible. You can restore a database from any previous version of SQL Server that was supported at the time of the release. For SQL Server 2017, you can therefore restore databases from SQL Server 2008 to 2017. SQL Server, however, is not forward compatible.
Can we directly upgrade SQL Server 2008 to 2016?
SQL Server 2016 supports upgrade from the following versions of SQL Server: SQL Server 2008 SP4 or later. SQL Server 2008 R2 SP3 or later.
Can I restore a SQL 2008 backup to SQL 2012?
You have to restore your backup first to a e.g. SQL Server 2008 and then you have to create a new backup of this database; then you can restore this new backup from 2008 to 2012.
Can we restore SQL Server 2005 backup to 2016?
It's not true. You can backup+restore (safest way) or detach+attach (not a safe way) from SQL Server 2005 (or higher) to any other newer version. You just can't do an in-place upgrade to the latest version from SQL Server 2005.
Can we restore SQL Server 2012 backup to 2016?
The short answer is yes. You can restore your database backup on a different version of SQL Server, but there is a tiny restriction.
How do I upgrade SQL Server to 2016?
Click Installation on the left panel, and then click Upgrade from a previous version of SQL Server on the right panel. The following screen will be displayed: Select the Enter the product key: option and type the product key if the product key is not filled automatically. Click Next to continue.
How do I move a SQL Server database to a higher version?
Login to Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio. Right click on the DB that you want the data moved to (Ex: adap_new). Select Tasks --> Import Data....2. MS SQL DB Migration using Import Data MethodServer Name.Authentication (Used to login to SSMS).Database.Click Next.
How do I move a SQL Server database to a lower version?
How to Migrate SQL Server Database to Lower VersionLaunch Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and Go to Object Explorer.Select the desired database and right-click on it.Click on Tasks and choose 'Generate Scripts'Generate and Publish Scripts wizard will be opened.More items...•
How do I restore a SQL 2008 database to SQL 2014?
Import SQL Server 2008 Database to SQL Server 2014 ManuallyOpen SQL Server Management Studio on the source server,Select the database & right-click, select Tasks > Copy Database,Copy Database windows will pop on-screen, ... Specify the preferred settings configuration,Click Next,More items...•
How do I restore a backup from a higher version of a lower version of SQL?
How to restore a SQL Server database backup to an older version of SQL ServerSelect the Save scripts to a specific location option.Specify whether the database objects and data will be scripted to a single file, multiple files, as well as the path and encoding of the generated scripts.Click Advanced.More items...•
Can we restore SQL Server 2014 backup to 2017?
The software allows users to restore SQL Server 2014 backup to 2017 Server with all or selective components of database. Moreover, it will provide the functionality to restore the selective components of . bak file to an existing database. This will save the user precious time and effort too.
Why is SQL 2008 not supported?
Here are some of the reasons: Microsoft will not provide any support for SQL 2008 in the future. The SQL data will be at risk for security exploitation. SQL 2008 doesn’t have advanced features as compared to SQL 2016. With SQL 2016, you can enhance performance. SQL 2016 provides improved data encryption and security.
What is SQL 2016?
SQL 2016 provides improved data encryption and security. Also, there are some other features that SQL 2016 offers, such as Dynamic data masking, Query Store, JSON support, Temporal Table, Row level security, stretch database, etc. Now, let’s move to the step-by-step process of upgrading SQL 2008 to SQL 2016.
Is SQL Server a database?
SQL is one of the widely used Microsoft database management systems. So, every business should be extra careful when migrating data from SQL Server. Though manual methods are suitable for migration, if the SQL files are corrupt, then these methods won’t work. So, using this tool that is specially designed for this specific task would provide extra benefits and security.
Is SQL 2008 a side by side upgrade?
But, side-by-side upgrade of SQL 2008 is very costly and takes too much time to upgrade the Server. In the side-by- side upgrade, you’ll have to backup and restore all the database. Many times, you’ll have to implement a new version of Windows Server, which often requires a new license for the operating system.
Is it necessary to migrate from SQL Server 2008 to 2016?
Migrating from SQL Server 2008 to 2016 has now become necessary for organizations, not only because Microsoft will stop providing security updates for it, but also for the new features and advanced security that new SQL Servers has to offers. In this article, we have covered the most effective methods to migrate SQL Server 2016 MDF files to SQL Server 2018.
Tables to be moved
We can query the tables that need to be moved and their type by using the script from this page:
Move tables with a PRIMARY KEY, CLUSTERED or NONCLUSTERED index
We need to generate a script of the indexes. There is an option in SSMS to script objects from a database, but you’re forced to include the table definition in it and this is hard to remove later. There is another option using dbatools.io, but it requires PowerShell V3, which is not the case for me.
Move HEAP tables
Using the output of the query in “Tables to be moved”, we just need the name of any column in each of the HEAP tables to create an index on that and drop the index, which is the way to move a HEAP table according to this link.
Move BLOB tables
In order to move these tables, we need to partition them into the new filegroup according to this link, that’s why we need an Enterprise version of SQL Server. This will be a manual process, so hopefully there aren’t too much of these, in my case there were only a few, and those are returned in the output of the query in “Tables to be moved”.
Final steps
We just need to confirm that all user tables are in the new filegroup and the system tables are in the PRIMARY filegroup, by running the query in “Tables to be moved”. Then, we need to shrink the datafile used in the PRIMARY filegroup, which is big because there used to be the user tables, with the following instruction:
Symptoms
Assume that you have a database that has many objects backed up in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2008 R2, and you are trying to restore the backup to SQL Server 2016 or 2017. In this scenario, you notice that restoration takes a long time to finish.
More Information
When it restores the SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2008 R2 database backup to SQL Server 2016 or 2017, SQL Server has to upgrade the internal version of the databases. One of the version upgrade steps was optimized to shorten the upgrade time.
Status
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
What is SQL 2016?
SQL 2016 gives improved data encryption and security. There are commonly two manual strategies to move up to SQL 2016, which include: Performing side by side upgrade – It includes making a full backup of existing SQL Server database and a clean installation of SQL Server on another working framework.
Why won't Microsoft support SQL 2008?
Here is a portion of the reasons: Microsoft won’t offer any help for SQL 2008 later on. The SQL data will be in danger for security misuse. SQL 2008 doesn’t have propelled includes when contrasted with SQL 2016. With SQL 2016, you can upgrade execution. SQL 2016 gives improved data encryption and security.
Is SQL a database?
SQL is one of the broadly utilized Microsoft databases in the management system. In this way, every business should be extra cautious while relocating data from SQL Server. In spite of the fact that manual strategies are appropriate for movement, on the off chance that the SQL files are corrupted, at that point these techniques won’t work. Thus, utilizing the SysTools SQL Database Recovery Tool is extraordinarily intended for this particular task would give additional advantages and security.
Solution 1
No. You can (sometimes) restore an earlier version backup to a later version SQL server, but you cannot restore a later version backup to an earlier version.
Solution 2
OriginalGriff is right, however there are tools to convert databases that might be able to do this. Most of these tools are paid, but the free version of Power Architect might be able to do it: https://www.slant.co/topics/10827/viewpoints/7/~relational-database-design-and-modelling-tools~sql-power-architect [ ^]
Solution 3
Another option would be to write your own conversion utility, here is an example that converts SQL Server to PostgreSQL. Only thing you need to do is change PostgreSQL to SQL Server 2008 :)

Why Move from SQL 2008 to SQL 2016?
Step-By-Step Process to Upgrade SQL 2008 to SQL 2016
- There are generally two manual methods to upgrade to SQL 2016, which involve: 1. Performing side-by-side upgrade– It involves creating a full backup of existing SQL Server database and a clean installation of SQL Server on a new operating system 2. In-place upgrade of the earlier SQL database Both of these methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. The side-by-sid…
Expert Recommendation – Why Choose The Software?
- SQL is one of the widely used Microsoft database management systems. So, every business should be extra careful when migrating data from SQL Server. Though manual methods are suitable for migration, if the SQL files are corrupt, then these methods won’t work. So, using this tool that is specially designed for this specific task would provide extra benefits and security.
Instant SQL 2008 to 2016 Migration – Using Kernel For SQL Database Recovery
- It is an advanced tool that helps users easily migrate any SQL Server to a newer version. Apart from that, you can also repair corrupt MDF files(SQL database files) with the software quickly and have a clear preview of the entire database. It also supports restoring large-sized SQL database files (MDF files) maintaining the data integrity. Now, let...
Conclusion
- Migrating from SQL Server 2008 to 2016 has now become necessary for organizations, not only because Microsoft will stop providing security updates for it, but also for the new features and advanced security that new SQL Servers has to offers. In this article, we have covered the most effective methods to migrate SQL Server 2016 MDF files to SQL Server 2018.