Overview
The most common types of SQL Server backups are complete or full backups, also known as database backups. These backups create a complete backup of your database as well as part of the transaction log, so the database can be recovered. This allows for the simplest form of database restoration, since all of the contents are contained in one backup.
Explanation
A full backup can be completed either using T-SQL or by using SSMS. The following examples show you how to create a full backup.
Create full SQL Server database backup to one disk file
T-SQL
This will create a full backup of the AdventureWorks database and write the backup contents to file “C:\AdventureWorks.BAK”. The .BAK extension is commonly used for identifying that the backup is a full database backup.
BACKUP DATABASE AdventureWorks TO DISK = 'C:\AdventureWorks.BAK'
GO
SQL Server Management Studio
- Right click on the database name
- Select Tasks > Backup
- Select “Full” as the backup type
- Select “Disk” as the destination
- Click on “Add…” to add a backup file and type “C:\AdventureWorks.BAK” and click “OK”
- Click “OK” again to create the backup
Here is what this looks like in a different version of SSMS.
Greg Robidoux has been working with databases for 35+ years with extensive hands on SQL Server experience from version 6.5 to 2025. He has authored over 250 technical articles and delivered several presentations online and at various conventions. Greg is also the President and founder of Edgewood Solutions, a technology services company delivering services and solutions for Microsoft SQL Server.
Hi Neha, from the error message it looks like the folder does not exist.
-Greg
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Backup failed for Server ‘5.189.147.163\MSSQLSERVER2017’. (Microsoft.SqlServer.SmoExtended)
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For help, click: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&ProdVer=16.100.46367.54+(SMO-master-A)&EvtSrc=Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.ExceptionTemplates.FailedOperationExceptionText&EvtID=Backup+Server&LinkId=20476
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Program Location:
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Backup.SqlBackup(Server srv)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.SqlManagerUI.BackupPropBackupOptions.OnRunNow(Object sender)
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System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: Cannot open backup device ‘C:\AC_BACKUP\test.BAK’. Operating system error 3(The system cannot find the path specified.). (Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo)
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For help, click: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&ProdVer=16.100.46367.54+(SMO-master-A)&LinkId=20476
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Program Location:
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.ExecutionManager.ExecuteNonQueryWithMessage(StringCollection queries, ServerMessageEventHandler dbccMessageHandler, Boolean errorsAsMessages, Boolean retry)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.BackupRestoreBase.ExecuteSql(Server server, StringCollection queries)
at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Backup.SqlBackup(Server srv)