Loading Files from My User Directory in SQL Server Management Studio 2012 Under Windows 8

Question

I'm in the process of migrating to Windows 8, part of which was to get SQL Server/SQL Server Management Studio 2012 running. I tried to load some sample data from a .bak file for a 2012 compatible version of the AdventureWorks database to make sure it was working. To do so, I right clicked on my main database server in the explorer window > Restore Database and attempted to mount a .bak file using Source > Device > Add. I downloaded the AdVentureWorks .bak file from http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/releases/view/55330 into my user directory, however when I try to access this directory, it comes up blank:

I'm currently authenticated using my Microsoft account (i.e. I logged in using my Microsoft account during my Win8 installation and setup my user profile accordingly).

My question is - shouldn't I be able to see my user directory structure? If not, is there a new convention for Win8 that I'm not aware of?

Incidentally, I was able to restore my database by copying the file to the C:\ root and restoring from there.

Answer 1

To follow this up, I was able to resolve this issue by creating a conventional account (as opposed to a cloud-connected Microsoft account which is what Windows 8 appears to setup by default). To do this:

1. Open a command prompt
2. Run the command mmc
3. Navigate to File > Add/Remove snap-in...
4. Select Local Users and Groups
5. Click the Add button
6. Select Local computer
7. Click the Finish button
8. Click the OK button
9. Expand the Local Users and Groups (Local) folder
10. Open the Users folder
11. Right-click in the right-hand pane > New user
12. Fill in the user details as required
13. Log in with this user for sys-admin-like tasks from now on

You'll probably want to add this user to the Administrator group:

1. Still on the same screen, right-click on the user > Properties
2. Click on the Member Of tab
3. Click the Add button
4. Enter the name Administrators
5. Click the Check Names button
6. Click the OK button
7. Click the OK button on the next interface