SQL express backup

I could copy and paste the text from the following article (Microsoft support) , but I won't do that.

How to schedule and automate backups of SQL Server databases in SQL Server Express

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2019698

you should do more than just backup.

I use http://expressmaint.codeplex.com/

The application looks like what I need but unfortunately the links explaining how to use it are broken

In the Microsoft link it refers to step A to create a stored procedure. I am unsure how to do this and also if and what I need to edit in the text of step A.
Lets say I want to backup a database called master once a day and save it to d:\backups
Sorry for the basic steps but I am new to this!

I found another one for you with full screen shots: http://kb.verba.com/display/docs/Scheduling+backup+and+maintenance+for+SQL+Server+Express

For the Microsoft article:

Step A: just copy and paste the code into a  new query window in the SQL Server Management studio (I suppose you installed Management Studio Express?), and run it.  I don't think you need to edit anything here.

Step B: use Example 1 to have the most complete backup (all databases, full backup) or Example 4 for a single database.

"Master" already exists as a database name in every SQL Server instance.  So I hope you didn't put all your tables in the existing master database.  You should create a new database for your application.

To make it easier If I try to run a manual backup, setting all the parametres for filename location type etc and then select the option "script action to file" I can then save a file with a .sql extention with these details. I put this in task scheduler but I believe I am missing a step as it does not run until I open management studio

check steps 8 and 9 of my last link

Everything seems to be in place but it still does not work. If I run the backup directly from the studio console it works fine with the below parametres but it does not work through task scheduler even when I select to "run" manually.
The task scheduler is running with my local admin account details and the option for run with highest privilages is checked. It seems to start but then sticks on "running" The history shows

Task Scheduler successfully completed task "\backup" , instance "{25d171ee-0270-4c1f-a1b2-d60d90c3409f}" , action "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\SQLCMD.EXE" with return code 1.


I have selected to start a program
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\SQLCMD.EXE"
with add arguments entered as -i "c:\script\backup.sql"

The contents of the backup.sql are
BACKUP DATABASE [master] TO  DISK = N'C:\script\mybackup' WITH NOFORMAT, INIT,  NAME = N'master-Full Database Backup', SKIP, NOREWIND, NOUNLOAD,  STATS = 10
GO

I tried the same on my server and this worked fine so some issue with my test laptop. One final question when the backup runs how can I tell it to create a new backup file each day and ideally append the date to the name of the backup. At the moment each time I run it it overwrites the existing file even though its set to append. Thanks.

if you are using the last link I gave you, make sure you set these parameters:
   @dbretainunit  = 'days',
   @dbretainval   = 5,

I entered those parameters exactly as above on a line on their own but the backup no longer runs. I presume they need to go in in a specific format?

>>I entered those parameters exactly as above on a line on their own but the backup no longer runs. I presume they need to go in in a specific format?

just to be sure, you are using the script contained in that link?

The steps I have done so far are copy the details below into a notepad document, change the name of the database from verba to my database name. I have also created c:\backup and C:\reports folder. I have saved the noted document as backupscript.sql and saved it to c:\backup .
In task scheduler I have selected to start a program
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\SQLCMD.EXE"
with add arguments entered as -i "c:\backup\backupscript.sql"

When I run this task manually it does not create a file. I am doing something wrong


exec expressmaint
   @database      = 'verba',
   @optype        = 'DB',
   @backupfldr    = 'c:\backup',
   @reportfldr    = 'c:\report',
   @verify        = 1,
   @dbretainunit  = 'days',
   @dbretainval   = 4,
   @rptretainunit = 'weeks',
   @rptretainval  = 1,
   @report        = 1

do you have any error message?

try to run your command from SSMS and see if there is an error.

did yo run the sql_express_maintanance.sql to install the sp on your server?

are you sure you have read the warning section: "In order to run expressmaint stored procedure, the following options have to be enabled in the Surface Area Configuration:"?

In history I can see action completed error code 0.

Not sure where I need to go to run the command in ssms

I downloaded the zip file from http://expressmaint.codeplex.com/releases/view/35577 for sql 2008 extracted it and ran the exe which flashed up a screen for s split second

I have turned on the surface area features as indicated in the article.

MS don't make this easy!

Perfect I can see expressmaint procedure did not install correctly. I ran the stored procedure instead of the exe and everything worked perfect. Thank you very much.

Thanks