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There are two types of MDF files: Microsoft Database Files, which can be attached to databases using SQL Server Management Studio, and Media Descriptor Files, which are disk images created by Alcohol 120%. This How.com.vn article teaches you how to open both types of files.
Quick Steps
- Open SQL Server Management Studio.
- Connect to a server.
- Right-click the "Database" folder in the panel to the right.
- Click Attach.
- Click Add.
- Select an MDF file and click Ok.
Steps
- Open SQL Server Management Studio. If your MDF file is a Microsoft Database File, you can open it in SQL Server Management Studio. Look for the icon with a hammer and wrench in the Start menu.
- This method allows you to attach a Microsoft Database File to a server.
- Connect to a server. Select the server type, enter the server name, type your login details, and then click Connect.[1]Advertisement
- Right-click the "Database" folder and select Attach.
- Click Add. It's below the window that says "Databases to attach."
- Select an MDF file and click Ok. This attaches the MDF file in SQL Server Management Studio. You can now access the database and perform operations.
- Download Daemon Tools. You can use Daemon Tools to mount Media Descriptor Files (MDF). The full version of Daemon Tools Lite costs $4.99, but you can download the ad-supported Lite version free. You can get Daemon Tools from https://www.daemon-tools.cc/products/dtLite.
- If you just want to extract the contents of an MDF file, you can do so using WinRAR or 7-zip.
- Install Daemon Tools. Once the installer has finished downloading, double-click the installation file and follow the prompts to complete the installation.
- Right-click the MDF file. This displays a context menu.
- If you see the Daemon Tools icon in the menu, select it to open the MDF file.
- Click Open with…. This displays a list of apps you can use to open the MDF file.
- Select Daemon Tools. This mounts the MDF file as a DVD so you can access its contents.
- Open the folder containing the MDF file. The filename ends with the ".mdf" extension.
- Hold Control as you click the MDF file. A menu will expand.
- Click Get Info on the menu. A panel with information about the file will appear.
- Click the arrow next to "Name & Extension." It's toward the top of the panel. This displays the file name (which ends with .mdf) in a box.
- If you don't see the ".mdf" part of the file name, remove the checkmark from the "Hide extension" box.
- Replace .mdf with .iso. Since these file types are so similar, changing the extension to .iso is all it takes to make the image mountable on your Mac.[2]
- Click the red circle to close the window. It's at the top-left corner of the panel.
- Double-click the file you renamed. This mounts the file using Disk Utility on your Mac.
Expert Q&A
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About This Article
1. Install Alcohol Portable.
2. Drag the MDF file into the app.
3. Right-click the image.
4. Click Mount Image File.
5. Double-click the new folder.
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