>Hi Dragan,
>
>For your 'Access denied' issue did you try running SSMS as Admin?

What do you think of me, that I would run SSMS? Not on my box! I'm running toad. And besides, it isn't SSMS that's running the SQL commands, it's the SQL server. That's why "NT Service\MSSQL$SQEX12" has to have the rights to all the folders where SQL server is accessing the files/directories.

>Also, I always click on script button when doing these tasks from the interface and correct the script manually the way I need it.

Exactly what I do (and you wouldn't believe for how many thing you can get scripts in Toad that you can't in SSMS). This time I just replaced the name of the backup file in the existing script which worked before (and the location of the file was same as before). It's just that meanwhile I got a fresh backup made with a newer version of SQL server than the one before.

And, mind you, this is not a "what am I doing wrong" thread, I got it restored within ten minutes. This is just a rant on the stupid and unnecessary steps that SQL made me make.