title: SQL Server 2012: Backup restore from a compressed backup
body: <p>I am trying to restore a database from the backup (<code>.bak</code>) file which is [saved] inside a <code>ZIP</code> file, but not been successful so far. However, I am able to restore it after extracting from the <code>ZIP</code> file.</p>
  <p>This <a href="https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb964719(v=sql.110).aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MS page</a> says every edition of SQL Server 2008 and later can restore a compressed backup with the following restrictions.</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>Restrictions: The following restrictions apply to compressed backups:</p>
  <ol>
  <li>Compressed and uncompressed backups cannot co-exist in a media set.</li>
  <li>Previous versions of SQL Server cannot read compressed backups.</li>
  <li>NTbackups cannot share a tape with compressed SQL Server backups.</li>
  </ol>
  </blockquote>
  <p>I do not clearly understand the first restriction. Could someone please clarify/elaborate this?</p>
  <p>I have done the following steps:</p>
  <ol>
  <li><p>Taken a backup on a staging SQL Server [<code>MyTestDB.bak</code>]; Compressed it (by Right Click &gt; Send To - Compressed(zipped) folder); Now, named it as <code>MyTestDB.ZIP</code></p>
  </li>
  <li><p>FTP'd the <code>ZIP</code> file to local development SQL Server and trying to restore it from the <code>ZIP</code> file. But the database name is not available to backup.</p>
  </li>
  </ol>
  <p>Both SQL Server versions are exactly same.</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>SQL Servers Version: Microsoft SQL Server 2012 - 11.0.5058.0 (X64)-Standard Edition (64-bit)</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/gjMZ8.png" alt="When tried to restore from ZIP file" /></p>
  <p>Would the usage of term 'compressed backup' for the backup files saved inside ZIP files is correct or Is this need to be backed up in a different way so it can be called as a compressed backup?</p>
  <ol start="3">
  <li>However, if I select the <code>.bak</code> file after extracting it from the <code>ZIP</code> file it all works fine.</li>
  </ol>
  <p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/BoIpv.png" alt="When tried to restore from .bak file" /></p>
  <p>I am not sure where I am going wrong? I can simply extract the backup and restore it without any problem, but would like to know the cause why it is not working, as it would have been a much better solution to just back up it from the <code>ZIP</code> itself.</p>