Opening a SQL Server .bak file (Not restoring!)

From SQL Server 2008 SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio), simply:

1. Connect to your database instance (for example, “localhost\sqlexpress”)

2. Either:

   • a) Select the database you want to restore to; or, alternatively
   • b) Just create a new, empty database to restore to.

3. Right-click, Tasks, Restore, Database

4. Device, […], Add, Browse to your .bak file
5. Select the backup.
   Choose “overwrite=Y” under options.
   Restore the database
6. It should say “100% complete”, and your database should be on-line.

PS: Again, I emphasize: you can easily do this on a “scratch database” – you do not need to overwrite your current database. But you do need to RESTORE.

PPS: You can also accomplish the same thing with T-SQL commands, if you wished to script it.