System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError -When Restoring a Database to SQL Server 2008

Today i tried to restore a database backup to SQL Server 2008 R2 and he got the following error

Msg 3176, Level 16, State 1, Line 1 File 'D:\SQL Server 2008 DBs\test01.mdf' is claimed by 'SCTA_ORG_SECOND'(3) and 'SCTA_ORGANIZATION'(1). The WITH MOVE clause can be used to relocate one or more files.

Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally

let's resolve this error then we will explain the reason of this error so at the same screen used for restoring database of Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 

select Script Action to New Query Window as the above image so you will get the following T-SQL and here we will know the reason

RESTORE DATABASE [test01] FROM  DISK = N'D:\SCTA_Org2.bak' WITH  FILE = 1,
    MOVE N'SCTA_ORGANIZATION' TO N'D:\SQL Server 2008 DBs\test01.mdf',
    MOVE N'SCTA_ORG_SECOND' TO N'D:\SQL Server 2008 DBs\test01.MDF',
    MOVE N'SCTA_ORGANIZATION_log' TO N'D:\SQL Server 2008 DBs\test01_1.ldf',
    NOUNLOAD,  STATS = 10
GO

so you will notice there are two files of mdf with the same name so just change the name of second one to test02 or to test01.ndf ( different extension) then run the command and it's successfully restored.

so the logical answer for this error first test01.mdf is a primary data file and the second is the secondary data file but the extension and name are same so that way you have to change the name or extension of second file with any other name or extension.

Note: the extension is anything ( it can be .fad or .ndf but .ndf is best practice to determine what this file for for example .ldf for log file , .ndf  for secondary data files ..).

Finally : I think the original database backup come from SQL Server 2000 and maybe this behavior allowed in SQL Server 2000 or the name is a case sensitive ( test01.mdf not like test01.MDF).

Regards,

Sathish

http://sathish-nav.blogspot.com