Hi, this may not be in the roght forum.

I have huge backup files (18gb) but I am required to retrieve data from a certain date. so I have to Copy the backup to the server and restore it (which takes ages for both operations). Can I virtually mount the backup and treat it as a database to perform actions on it.

I have an SP that copies data copy the restored table to the live table, so If if I could do this from a virtual table, I would save myself and my clinet hours of wasted time.

SQL Server doesn't have the licks to do that but there is third party software out there that does. RedGate used to have something that would do that but I believe they discontinued it... could be wrong there, though.

--Jeff Moden

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RBAR is pronounced ree-bar and is a Modenism for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
Stop thinking about what you want to do to a row... think, instead, of what you want to do to a column.
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We did have a piece of software that did that. It was discontinued.

However, you could try using SQL Compare and SQL Data Compare. They can be run against a backup directly. If all you want is a table and some of the data, this is the approach I'd take.

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The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood...
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The Scary DBA
Author of: SQL Server Query Performance Tuning and SQL Server Execution Plans
Product Evangelist for Red Gate Software