If you have been advised to use SQL Management Studio to restore your KC7 backup, there is a good chance it is because there are Windows or SQL Server permissions preventing our Backup/Restore utility from functioning.  This is another solution to restoring your database but you should have your local computer professional investigate the permission issue.

Please note: Software Connection only supports Kennel Connection.  We do not or can we support Windows and SQL Server permission issues.

You will need to have SQL Management Studio installed on your main/server computer to complete these steps.  If you do not have it, click on Downloading and installing SQL Management Studio for instructions.

Please note:  In the steps below, the database name is TestDB.  Yours will be called wkennel7.

1.  Open SQL Management Studio.  (Versions change so your SSMS version may be newer)

Click the Windows key + S key on the keyboard to search.  Search for SQL server and choose SQL Server Management Studio.

2.  Choose your correct SQL instance on the login screen.  If you used the KC7 Install Wizard to install SQL Server, the instance will be called COMPUTERNAME\WKENNEL.  If the correct one is not automatically populated, you may need to click the drop down arrow and choose Browse for more.

3.  Once inside the Browse for Servers window, expand the database engine and look for the proper instance.  If you still don't see the proper instance, click the Network Servers tab and wait for them to populate.  Expand the Database Engine and, if the proper one appears, select it and click OK.

4.  Once you have selected the appropriate SQL instance, you now need to login.  Click in the drop down to change the Authentication to SQL Server Authentication and, if you use the KC7 Wizard to install SQL Server, use the credentials below.  If you did not use KC7 Wizard to install SQL Server, look in either your old KC6 folder for the wkennel.ini file or your KC7 folder for the wkennel.ini file and obtain the login information at the bottom in the SQL section.

Click the Connect button.

Warning:  SQL Management Studio gives you full access to your SQL Server and your databases.  Any changes made in this program could severely impact the Kennel Connection database and the way the software is able to function.  Anything done incorrectly could cause loss of data and loss of access to the software.  Software Connection does not support this software nor are we responsible for anything done inside of it.  This program should ONLY be used by a technician familiar with SQL and SQL Management Studio.  As always, be sure to backup your Kennel Connection database prior to making ANY changes in this software.

5.  Right mouse click on the Databases node and select Restore Database.

6.  Choose Device and then click the "..." browse button to the right.

7.  Click Add and then navigate to where the backup (.bak) file is located.  Choose the backup file and click OK.  Click OK again on the Select backup device screen.

8.  Click Options on the left and make sure you have the exact same options selected and then click OK to start the restore process.

You will get a successful message if the restore works.  If it fails, you will get a failure notice and a link to click either in the upper left or bottom left corner of the window.  This link will show you the error and reason why it failed.

Once the restore is complete, you can close SQL Management Studio and start Kennel Connection as long as you have previously configured Kennel Connection's wkennel.ini file to point to this version of SQL server.