SQL Server No Backupset Selected to Be Restored – Fix The Error Here

Microsoft SQL Server is a well-known database management system that helps to store and retrieve data from the database. SQL Server recommends users to create a backup of SQL Server Database regularly. If users need to restore an SQL database, it can be done easily in minutes. But, what to do if the backup (.bak file) is corrupted or can not be accessed? A large number of users are confronted with the “SQL Server No Backupset Selected To be Restored” error when restoring a database from .bak file.

Therefore. in this blog, we will let you know about the solution of how to fix this problem to restore SQL database from .bak file with ease.

Table of Content

• User Queries
• No Backupset Selected To Be Restored Error Reasons
• Restoring Tool with BAK Files
• Step by Step Process with Images
• Best Practices to Avoid Error
• Conclusion
• FAQ

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User Query

“Hello, we are working with SQL Server 2012 from last 6 months in our organization. I have backed up the SQL database and obtained the dab.bak file. Now, I’m trying to restore SQL database from .bak file using SQL Server Management Studio. But the backup file is not restored and the error is displayed as “No backupset selected to be restored.”. I don’t know what I am missing. Please guide me on how to repair the SQL no backupset selected to be restored. Thanks in Advance!“

below is another user query that might give users a detailed understanding of the entire scenario.

Reasons For SQL Server No Backupset Selected To Be Restored Error

There can be two possible reasons behind this error message while restoring .bak file in SQL Server.

1. You can try to restore .bak file from the new version to the old version. For example, you took a backup on SQL Server 2012 and restore it on SQL Server 2008. You only restore the database from .bak file in the same SQL Server version.
2. The backup file is corrupted or inaccessible. You can run this command to check
   RESTORE HEADERONLY FROM DISK='D:/abc.bak'
If the backup is corrupted, you are not able to see all the details in the output.
3. The occurrence of this error can also be due to no backup file selected. This may occur when one is trying to add a .bak file and has not enabled the backup set option in the restore window. 
4. Another reason for the error to show up is the missing permissions issue. If the SQL Server service account doesn’t have the required permissions, the server might fail to read the backup file.  
5. This is not a common reason, but using an incorrect file type, like a file named with the .bak extension but not being a backup file, can also result in error. 
6. There is a possibility that the backup might be completed, but the backup file contains no data. This will also result in the occurrence of the ‘SQL no backupset selected to be restored’ error.

Visual Representation of How the Error Might Look:

title: microsoft sql server management studio —————————— no backupset selected to be restored. —————————— buttons: ok ——————————

How to Restore BAK File in SQL Server Which is Corrupted?

SQL Server does not provide any utility to repair & restore damaged backup file. To overcome this problem, you must use SysTools SQL Backup Recovery Software. This application specially designed to repair SQL Server corrupt backup file and restore .bak file in SQL Server Database. Moreover, it works with all MS SQL Server version like 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008, and others to recover the database from backup. The software easily fix all bak file errors such as Error 3241, SQL Server Error 3154, no full database backup is selected to be restored. (microsoft.sqlserver.smoextended), etc.

Moreover, With this software, you can repair a large size of SQL backup files with complete accuracy. It recovers entire data saved in .bak file which include MDF & NDF database file. After recovering the damaged data, it will display a preview of all database items like tables, views, stored procedures, etc.

Also Read: How to Retrieve Truncated Table in SQL without Errors

Steps to Fix SQL Server No Backupset Selected to Be Restored Error

Follow all the mentioned instructions to repair & restore corrupted bak file in SQL Server Database.

Step 1. Download and Launch the SQL BAK File Recovery tool.

Step 2. Click Open, and then click Browse to load the SQL Server .bak file.

Step 3. Select SQL .bak file version, if you don’t know the exact version, simply click on Auto Detect option.

Step 4. Click Multiple Backup File Option to add and restore .multiple SQL .bak files at the same time.

Step 5. After selecting the files, click on the Recover button to start the recovery of the corrupted .bak file.

Step 6. Once the recovery process is complete, users can preview healthy files in the panel. Select the required items and click on Export option to fix ‘SQL Server no backupset selected to be restored’ error.

Step 7. Under Export Options, choose Export to SQL Server Database or SQL Server Compatible Scripts option and fill the required information.

Step 8. From the Select Destination Database option, choose “Create a New Database” to restore SQL Server backup to new database and “Export to Existing Database” to restore in an existing database.

Step 9. Next, Select one option, Export with schema or Export with schema & data.

Step 10. Click Export button to fix SQL Server No Backupset Selected to Be Restored error.

Finally, you can easily save the report in .csv file to the desired folder location. Moreover, to review the restored data, open SQL Server database. There, users can cross verify is their problem of no backup selected to be restored is solved or not. Although their are almost negligible chances of facing the error furthermore. 

Best Practices to Avoid ‘SQL Server No Backupset Selected to be Restored’ Error

• As we are now aware that the major reason for the ‘SQL no backupset selected to be restored’ error to occur is due to no backup set being selected. This is why it is crucial to always select the required backup set during the database restore process. 
• Before initiating the process, always check that the backup file being used is valid. 
• To maintain compatibility, always check the SQL versions and avoid restoring a backup of a newer SQL version to any older version. 
• To ensure that the correct file is being chosen for the database restore, always use proper file naming. Avoid using .bak file names for irrelevant files to avoid errors. 
• The SQL Server must have all the required permissions to read and access the backup file in the database.

Final Verdict

In this blog, we know the error and its causes when restoring the backup file in SQL Server. This error appears due to a corrupted backup file or restores in an older SQL Server version. Moreover, there is no manual solution to repair damaged SQL backup files.

Therefore, we recommend the professional solution that helps you to fix the SQL Server No Backupset Selected to Be Restored error. In addition, it is compatible with all Windows version including Windows 10, 8.1, 8, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions