Learn SQL Server Version from an MDF File Using PowerShell

Sometimes you may come across an .mdf file without knowing which version of SQL Server created it. Trying to attach it to a newer or older SQL Server instance might throw version incompatibility errors. Fortunately, you can determine the SQL Server version of an MDF file by inspecting a few specific bytes from it using PowerShell.

⚙️ Use PowerShell to Identify SQL Server Version

Open PowerShell and run the following command, replacing the path with your MDF file's location:

This command reads the MDF file as a byte array and retrieves two important bytes starting from the offset 0x12064 (73,572 in decimal), which hold the version information.

✅ Example Output

Now calculate the version number using the formula:

For the example above:

🗂️ Version Mapping Reference

Once you calculate the version number, compare it with this quick reference to identify the corresponding SQL Server version:

In our case, 854 corresponds to SQL Server 2016.

🧪 Alternative: Hex Editors

If you are not comfortable with PowerShell you can also open the MDF file using a hex editor like HxD or 010 Editor. Navigate to offset 0x12064 and read the two bytes. You will need to apply the same formula to calculate the version code.

📝 Final Tip

Keep in mind this method only works on primary MDF files that are not corrupted. Always ensure you have backups before attempting any manual inspections or attachments.