How to: View the Contents of a Backup Tape or File (SQL Server Management Studio)

This topic explains how to view the content of a backup tape or file.

To view the content of a backup tape or file

After connecting to the appropriate instance of the Microsoft SQL Server Database Engine, in Object Explorer, click the server name to expand the server tree.
Expand Databases, and, depending on the database, either select a user database or expand System Databases and select a system database.
Right-click the database you want to backup, point to Tasks, and then click Back Up. The Back Up Database dialog box appears.
In the Destination section of the General page, click either Disk or Tape. In the Back up to list box, look for the disk file or tape you want.

If the disk file or tape is not displayed in the list-box, click Add. Select a file name or tape drive. To add it to the Back up to list-box, click OK.
In the Back up to list-box, select the path of the disk or tape drive you want to view, and click Contents. This opens the Device Contents dialog box.
The right-hand pane displays information about the media set and backup sets on the selected tape or file. For more information, see Device Contents.