Restore sharepoint

Use following steps
Restore the backup of your PROF, SITES and SERV databases to your SQL server, creating a new name for them in the process. *Note: Do not restore the configuration database.
 1.Install SharePoint 2003 on your test server.
 2.On the "Specify Configuration Database Settings" page, choose Create Configuration Database.
 3.Enter your SQL Server name and instance.
 4.Create a unique Configuration database name, and click OK.
 5.Complete the SharePoint 2003 installation.
 6.Install any SharePoint service packs or security updates that were in place in the initial environment. This is very important. If you do not have the new environment on the same patch level as the old, you may run into problems getting SharePoint to attach to the database.
 7.Re-associate the restored SQL database with your new SharePoint test environment: 8a. In Central Administration, click on SharePoint Portal Server. 8b. In the Portal Site and Virtual Server Configuration section, go to List and manage Portal Sites. 8c. Click on Restore Portal Site 8d. Choose the "Restore a Portal" radio button. 8e. Enter the SQL server and instance name, and then the name of the restored databases.
 8.Click Ok, and OK again to confirm the Portal Site creation.
 9.Hopefully at this point you get an "Operation Successful" message.
 10.Reboot the server, and verify that your sites are being served.

Or

Check this below link
SharePoint Site Backup and Restore
http://rehmangul.sauftveyr.com/2009/04/18/sharepoint-site-backup-and-restore/

Let me know

Hi, I do not have a sql backup of the database. How else can we do this. Where is the db located by default?

http://blogs.technet.com/b/sharepointcomic/archive/2008/09/19/change-default-location-for-sharepoint-database-files-mdf-ldf.aspx

you should be able to adapt the steps in the following two articles to get you back up and running
http://msmvps.com/blogs/cgross/archive/2007/05/09/moving-a-wss-3-0-site-to-a-new-farm.aspx
http://sharepointmadeeasy.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-move-wss30-databases-from-one.html 

I have managed to get the db attached on sql and have added a new site in WSS but when i try and associate the site i get the following error msg: The specified SPContentdatabase Name=WSS_Content_ Parent=SPDatabaseSericeInstance has been upgraded to a newer version of Sharepoint. Please upgrade this sharepoint application server before attempting to access this object.

how can i check what is missing on the new server install?

I also get this is event viewer, any idea what i can do to correct the problem?
Databaswe WSS_Content on SQL Server instance "instancename" is not empty and does not match the current database schema.

I am restoring first to WSS3.
I have worked through the above and have managed to get he database added under content databse now but am unable to see any of the data when i open the website? How do i get all documents, links etc available again?

I have worked through this: http://geekswithblogs.net/WorldofTray/archive/2010/02/23/how-to-connect-to-a-restored-content-database-in-sharepoint.aspx but it fails to bring up the website with any content. I just get error 404 file not found.

Did you have any additional features/plugins/etc installed on the old server such as "windows Search Server express" etc. If you did have you re-installed all these in your new WSS farm?

None that i am aware of, so none have been installed on the new WSS.

The following error is seen in event viewer:

SQL Database 'WSS_Content' on SQL Server instance 'np:\\.\pipe\MSSQL$Microsoft##SSEE\sql\query' not found. Additional error information from SQL Server is included below.

Cannot open database "WSS_Content" requested by the login. The login failed.
Login failed for user 'NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE'.

Ok, an update on this, i have been unable to get the database up so have resorted to purchasing software. This has partially worked but will still continue to attempt to get the db loaded. Will upload details if i get it right.