Issue
Receive the following errors when trying to restore a SQL database:
ERROR MESSAGE #1
Msg 3169, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
The database was backed up on a server running version 10.50.1600. That version is incompatible with this server, which is running version 10.00.1600. Either restore the database on a server that supports the backup, or use a backup that is compatible with this server.
Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
ERROR MESSAGE #2
Server: Msg 3241, Level 16, State 7, Line 1
The media family on device [path of backup] is incorrectly formed. SQL Server cannot process this media family.
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
ERROR MESSAGE #3
Server: Msg 3169, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
The backed-up database has on-disk structure version 661. The server supports version 539 and cannot restore or upgrade this database.
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
ERROR MESSAGE #4
Server: Msg 3241, Level 16, State 7, Line 1
The media family on device [path of backup] is incorrectly formed. SQL Server cannot process this media family.
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
ERROR MESSAGE #5
Server: Msg 3169, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
The backed-up database has on-disk structure version 655. The server supports version 539 and cannot restore or upgrade this database.
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
ERROR MESSAGE #6
Server: Msg 3169, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
The backed-up database has on-disk structure version 611. The server supports version 539 and cannot restore or upgrade this database.
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
Product Line
Other, TAC INET, TAC Vista
Environment
- SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2000
- Enterprise, Standard, Express, MSDE
Cause
You cannot restore a backup created with a newer version of SQL Server on an instance running an older version of SQL Server. Unfortunately, the error messages that are displayed may not always tell you that it is a versioning problem. Here are various combinations of SQL versions and there associated error messages:
SQL Server 2008 R2 to SQL Server 2008
Msg 3169, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
The database was backed up on a server running version 10.50.1600. That version is incompatible with this server, which is running version 10.00.1600. Either restore the database on a server that supports the backup, or use a backup that is compatible with this server.
Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
SQL Server 2008 R2 to SQL Server 2005
Server: Msg 3241, Level 16, State 7, Line 1
The media family on device [path of backup] is incorrectly formed. SQL Server cannot process this media family.
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
SQL Server 2008 R2 to SQL Server 2000
Server: Msg 3169, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
The backed-up database has on-disk structure version 661. The server supports version 539 and cannot restore or upgrade this database.
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server 2005
Server: Msg 3241, Level 16, State 7, Line 1
The media family on device [path of backup] is incorrectly formed. SQL Server cannot process this media family.
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server 2000
Server: Msg 3169, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
The backed-up database has on-disk structure version 655. The server supports version 539 and cannot restore or upgrade this database.
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2000
Server: Msg 3169, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
The backed-up database has on-disk structure version 611. The server supports version 539 and cannot restore or upgrade this database.
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
Resolution
Possibly the quickest and simplest solution may be to uninstall any software including SQL currently installed, then re-install any software along with the correct version of SQL. If this is not an option, then Microsoft does provide information on how to upgrade different versions of SQL. Links are provided below:
Also check Software and Firmware compatibility matrix for older versions of the traditional product lines for supported Operating Systems and SQL versions.
