SQL Server Management Studio restore failed... why?

Question

I use Wonder Lister, an eBay listing management tool, which uses a local copy of SQL Server to manage data. I backed up my database on an old computer, which is no longer functional; I'm trying to restore it on a new computer, following the instructions in Restore a Database Using SQL Server Management Studio.

SSMS is version 20.2. The OS is Windows 11.

SSMS runs for about 30 seconds, then displays a message that the restore failed. No explain of why; just "failed."

How can I fix this? The database represents months of work; I need to recover it.

Answer 1

Click on the “restore database …” link to get the error message

Answer 2

No explain of why; just "failed."

There is an explaination, just click on the red "Restore..failed" link on bottom left.

Most common cause: The database is in access by some client/process.

For this set the checkbox "Close existing connection ..."

Answer 3

I clicked the link and did get an explanation of why the restore failed. As you guessed, it's because the database is in use. But by what?

As I said, Wonder Lister, the only application that uses this database, is not running. I looked at all of the running tasks and didn't see a name that suggested something connected with it.

After the explanation of the error is the parenthetic note "Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo." I looked that up and saw that it represents SQL Server Management Objects, "a collection of objects that are designed for programming all aspects of managing Microsoft SQL Server." That sounds like Microsoft Speak for "SQL Server's API," which is not helpful!

I've contacted Wonder Lister about this, but so far they have not responded. I'm disappointed by their slow (or non) response, which has been quite good in the past. But with or without them, I need to get this restore to work. Do you have any suggestions?