Did you check the checkbox "Overwrite existing database" in restore wizard?

>Thanks, I may eventually try something like that as a last ditch effort but the backup/restore method should work so I want to resolve it since backup/restore is is essential to operations.
>
>Bill
>
>>Detach DB from SQLExpress2008R2 and try to attach to SQLExpress2012.
>>
>>>No go. Same error. I restore to SQLExpress2008R2 all the time running SSMS normally. I am wondering if it is not a specific 2012 issue.
>>>
>>>>Run SSMS with elevated Admin privilege.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I am trying to move a SQLExpress2008R2 DB to SQLExpress2012.
>>>>>
>>>>>I a full backup of the SQL Express2008R2 DB. I then created a DB in SQLExpress2012 with the same name. Attempting to Restore the SQL2008 DB to the SQLExpress2012 DB generated the following security error. What am I missing here?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>TITLE: Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio
>>>>>------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>>Restore of database 'Lepton' failed. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.RelationalEngineTasks)
>>>>>
>>>>>------------------------------
>>>>>ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
>>>>>
>>>>>System.Data.SqlClient.SqlError: The operating system returned the error '5(Access is denied.)' while attempting 'RestoreContainer::ValidateTargetForCreation' on 'c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.SQLEXPRESS2008R2\MSSQL\DATA\Lepton.mdf'. (Microsoft.SqlServer.SmoExtended)
>>>>>
>>>>>For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&ProdVer=11.0.3000.0+((SQL11_PCU_Main).121019-1325+)&LinkId=20476