How do I back up a database to a .bak file?

Question

I have a website I\'ve created in Visual Studio 2008 and I need to take it live. How can I backup the database file to a .bak so I can hand it over to the hosting company to pla

Answer 1

Go to Microsoft Server Management Studio and right click on your database name. Go to "Tasks" -> "Back Up..."

Then assign your properties, ensure that "Backup Type" is full.

Then at the right there is a button "Add" press that and set your filename, ensure that you place the extension .bak at the end of the file name.

Finally hit ok and wait for the backup to complete.

MSDN also has an article that explains this http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187510.aspx