Cannot open backup device. Operating System error 5

Question

Below is the query that I am using to backup (create a .bak) my database.

However, whenever I run it, I always get this error message:

Answer 1

I have the same error. Following changes helped me to fix this.

I had to check Server Manager->Tool->Services and find the user ("Log On As" column) for service: SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS).

I went to the local folder (C:\Users\Me\Desktop\Backup) and added "NT Service\MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS" as the user to give Write permissions.

Answer 2

I had this issue recently as well, however I was running the backup job from server A but the database being backed up was on server B to a file share on server C. When the agent on server A tells server B to run a backup t-sql command, its actually the service account that sql is running under on SERVER B that attempts to write the backup to server C.

Just remember, its the service account of the sql server performing the actual BACKUP DATABASE command is what needs privileges on the file system, not the agent.

Answer 3

In order to find out which user you need to give permission to do the restore process, you can follow the following steps:

You need to go to your server where SQL Server is installed. Find SQL Server Configuration Manager

Next, you need to go to "SQL Server Services"

Under your SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) instance there will be an account with column "Logon As", in my case it is NT Service\MSSQLSERVER.

That is the account which you need to add under Security tab of your source .bak location and give that user the "Read" permissions so that the backup file can be read.

Let's say your backup file is present at "D:\Shared" folder, then you need to give permissions like this: