SQL BAK Reader

SQL BAK Reader is a tiny and portable piece of software that gives you the possibility to explore the contents of an SQL Server backup file without actually using SQL Server. It definitely comes in handy to those who are in a hurry and need to quickly find out this information.

No installation necessary

Since there is no setup pack involved, you can save the program files in any part of the hard disk and just click the executable to launch the app. Another possibility is to save SQL BAK Reader to a removable storage unit (like a pen drive) and run it on any PC directly, without any previous installers.
More importantly, the tool does not create new entries in the Windows registry or Start menu, so no traces are left behind after its removal.

Intuitive interface and options

The UI is user-friendly, represented by a regular window with a plain and simple layout, where SQL Server backup files (BAK and DMP format) can be opened using the file browser only, since the drag-and-drop method is not supported.
The tool shows all backup sets in the main frame, along with block headers on the bottom. Although SQL BAK Reader does not integrate buttons for copying data to the Clipboard, printing it or saving it to file, it is possible to copy text selections via the global hotkey. Apart from the fact that you can check for software updates by clicking a button, there are no other noteworthy options provided by this software utility.

Evaluation and conclusion

There were no kind of issues in our tests, since SQL BAK Reader did not hang, crash or pop up error messages. It is very responsive to commands and has minimal impact on computer performance, running on low CPU and memory.
On the other hand, SQL BAK Reader comes packed with limited features. Nevertheless, it gets the jobs done and does not require in-depth knowledge of SQL databases to work with.