Error when restoring SQL Server 2008 R2 backup on 2012 I am trying to restore a .bak file (backup taken on SQL Server 2008 R2, compatibility level 100). I am restoring the backup on SQL Server 2012 edition. I get the below error. Unfortunately the original DB from where the DB was backed up is no longer available. Any suggestions on how I can restore the DB to 2012 ?


  System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: Read on *** failed: 13 (The data is invalid.) (Microsoft.SqlServer.SmoExtended)
Do a Restore Headeronly With File = '...'  If it still fails it's not a valid native SQL Server backup file. It's not an issue of versions. 

Open it with a hex or text editor, what's the file header look like? Maybe it's compressed with a 3rd party solution like LiteSpeed and those require you to use a tool to convert to native format if you don't have it installed in this environment.