The database 'AdventureWorks2012' cannot be opened because it is version 705

While attaching an .mdf file of the Adventure Works 2012 database, I got the following error:

The database 'AdventureWorks2012' cannot be opened because it is version 705. This server supports version 655 and earlier. A downgrade path is not supported.
Could not open new database 'AdventureWorks2012'. CREATE DATABASE is aborted. (.Net SqlClient Data Provider)


database-failed

It seemed to be a rather silly mistake where I had copied the .mdf for Adventure Works 2012 in a SQL Express 2010 folder. Here’s the set up screenshot on my machine

sql-install-location

Instead of copying the .mdf to MSSQL11.SQLEXPR12 (which is the folder setup for SQL Express 2012), I had copied it to the MSQL10 folder.

The fix was simple, I copied the file to the correct folder, ran SQL Management Studio as administrator and bingo! The error went away!


About The Author

Suprotim Agarwal, MCSD, MCAD, MCDBA, MCSE, is the founder of DotNetCurry, DNC Magazine for Developers, SQLServerCurry and DevCurry. He has also authored a couple of books 51 Recipes using jQuery with ASP.NET Controls and a new one recently at The Absolutely Awesome jQuery CookBook.

Suprotim has received the prestigous Microsoft MVP award for nine times in a row now. In a professional capacity, he is the CEO of A2Z Knowledge Visuals Pvt Ltd, a digital group that represents premium web sites and digital publications comprising of Professional web, windows, mobile and cloud developers, technical managers, and architects.

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