T-SQL Backup Database command for file path with spaces?

Question

How do I write a T-SQL backup database command to specify a file containing spaces? Here is what I have:

BACKUP DATABASE AMDMetrics TO DISK = 'C:\Documents and Settings\daultrd\My Documents\DatabaseBackups\AMD_METRICS.DAT'

And this is the error I get:

Msg 3201, Level 16, State 1, Line 1 Cannot open backup device 'C:\Documents and Settings\daultrd\My Documents\DatabaseBackups\AMD_METRICS.DAT'. Operating system error 3(The system cannot find the path specified.). Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1 BACKUP DATABASE is terminating abnormally.

Answer 1

Try sharing your intended destination folder and using a UNC path to backup from the server to your local machine.

BACKUP DATABASE AMDMetrics 
    TO DISK = '\\YourMachineName\SharedFolderName\AMD_METRICS.DAT'

Answer 2

This works for me, are you sure that the directory is correct?

backup database master to disk = 'c:\Test Me\master.bak'


Processed 41728 pages for database 'master', file 'master' on file 1.
Processed 5 pages for database 'master', file 'mastlog' on file 1.
BACKUP DATABASE successfully processed 41733 pages 
in 22.911 seconds (14.230 MB/sec).

copy and paste this into explorer and see if you can get there C:\Documents and Settings\daultrd\My Documents\DatabaseBackups

This of course has to be the same machine, otherwise you need to map a drive to the location or use UNC paths