We received a .bak file as an export from an Act! database. My understanding is that this is a SQL Server backup that can be restored to SQL Server.
When I try to restore it to SQL Server 2008 Express (10.0.1600), I point to device: path_to_backup.bak. It immediately finds a database failed IFR_contacts, which is placed in the list of backup sets to restore. When I click Verify Backup Media, I receive the following error message:
The database was backed up on a server running version 10.50.2500. That version is incompatible with this server, which is running version 10.00.1600.
So I try to restore the file to SQL Server 2008 R2 SP2 Express (10.50.4000), but now when I point to the backup file, SQL Server doesn't find a database or a backup set to restore. I've tried in SQL Server 2012 Express, as well, with the same results as when I use R2.
I understand the compatibility issue when I'm trying to open with SQL Server 2008, but I'm confused that 2008 R2 and 2012 don't even find a database in the file when 2008 is able to. Why would that be?
Update
Just to see what would happen, I downloaded and installed version 10.50.2500. It also does not a database or backup set to restore. Really confused as to how 10.00.1600 sees a later version that it can't open, but the later versions just don't see anything.
I don't understand why this worked. I was trying to restore the file from my Desktop. A colleague suggested moving it to the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\[instance]\MSSQL\Backup directory. This directory apparently contains some magic that the Desktop is missing. Once the file was in the right spot, it opened right up.