Restoring a MSDE database to SQL Server 2005

Question

I am having a hard time trying to get a SQL Server 7.00.1094 backup to restore to a 9.00.1399 (MSDE to 2005) I was told that this will work. However I have done some research and all signs point to detaching and then attaching to the 2005 instance. The software provider specifically said I have to do a backup and restore, not a detach and attach. What is a good way around this? I am unable to upgrade the current instance to 2005 from 7.0.

I am able to add a new database to the 2005 instance, and restore other databases from the 7.0 instance by overwriting the new database I create, I only get this error when trying to restore the master database.

I guess the main question is, how do I successfully restore the system databases from 7.0 (7.00.1094) to 2005 (9.00.1399).

System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: The backup of the system database on the device C:\test db run\mvdbtest cannot be restored because it was created by a different version of the server (7.00.1094) than this server (9.00.1399). (Microsoft.SqlServer.Express.Smo)

Answer 1

One workaround would be to download the 2000 version of MSDE, restore your database to that instance, then take a backup from 2000, and restore that backup to 2005. This is the same approach you have to take today in order to get a database from 2000 to 2012.