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I have a database on SQL Server 2008 R2.

I want to attach it on a SQL Server Express 2008 instance running on Windows 2003.

I set the SQL server compatibility level on the database to SQL Server 2005 in SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Studio before detaching.

But I can't attach this database to my SQL 2008 instance running on Windows 2003 due to a "compatibility error".

How can I get around this?

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    possible duplicate of How do I downgrade a SQL 2008 MDF file for use in SQL 2005? and many others. This is not a "compatibility level" error Commented Sep 18, 2011 at 13:10
  • @gbn I though it was compatibility level prblem Commented Sep 18, 2011 at 13:13
  • @Aaron Bertrand Some one said me its not possible to install sql server R2 on windows server 2003 32 bit. Commented Sep 18, 2011 at 13:14
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    You need to apply SP2 to the operating system, but "some one" was wrong. Why listen to "some one" when you can check the source? Operating system support is not a secret. msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506.aspx Commented Sep 18, 2011 at 13:29

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You can't attach a SQL Server 2008 R2 database to a SQL Server 2008 or 2005 instance. You can only go up, not down; you can't make your 2008 R2 database compatible with previous versions. The solution is to remove your Express instance and replace it with a 2008 R2 instance, then you will be able to attach your database...

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  • Thank you :] Is it possible to install Sql server R2 instance on Windows server 2003 32 bit ? Commented Sep 18, 2011 at 13:11
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    Yes, you can do that. Commented Sep 18, 2011 at 13:11
  • Thanks and last question : windows server is not R2 nevertheless I can install sql server R2 instance on it? Commented Sep 18, 2011 at 13:16
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    Again, yes, you can do that. Commented Sep 18, 2011 at 13:30
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I ran into a similar issue once. I attached a 2000 DB to a 2005 instance, figured out it was the wrong instance, but now I was not able to attach it back to the 2000 instance. What I ended up doing was an export of the tables/objects from the 2005 instance and then imported it back to the 2000 instance.

Fortunately for me, the DB was very small and I did not miss any functionality during the export/import process.

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