copy a database within SQL Server Express?

Question

I would like to make a copy of a database I have but keep it on the same server as a test database. However, everything I have found is to use the copy database wizard (I am

Answer 1

The solution is definitely to create a backup and restore it, but ensure that you're restored copy is pointing to different .mdf and .ldf files.

Here's how to check that using SSMS 2014 and a SQL Server 12 installation: assuming you're creating and restoring backups on your local disk.

• Create a backup of your existing database
  • Right click the database, and choose "back up..." under "tasks."
  • (If you leave the location as the default, you don't have to hunt for the back up in the next step when you restore.)
• Restore your backup to a NEW database:
  • Right click on databases, choose "restore database"
  • Select "device"
  • Click the ellipsis button ("...") to open the "Selct Backup devices" dialog.
  • Choose "File" as the backup media type and click the "add" button
  • Select the backup you just made, click ok (twice)
  • Now, back in the "restore database" dialog, type a new name for your destination database
  • Click "files" under "select a page" and make sure that "restore as" is pointing to .mdf and .ldf file names that do not already exist
  • Click ok!