Too many backup devices specified for backup or restore; only 64 are allowed

When you try to restore a database backup, the restore operation may fail. You may receive an error message that is similar to the following:

Server: Msg 3205, Level 16, State 2, Line 1
Too many backup devices specified for backup or restore; only 64 are allowed.
Server: Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.

The message doesn't necessarily mean what it says. The following are possible causes:

• You want to restore a database backup that spans across multiple backup devices, and you have not specified more than 64 backup devices.


• You created the database backup on a computer that is running SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3) (Build 2000.80.869.0) or a later build of SQL Server 2000 SP3.


• You try to restore the database backup on a computer that is running a build of SQL Server 2000 SP3 that is earlier than 2000.80.869.0.


• You are trying to restore a database created in SQL Server 2005 or SQL Server 2008 to an instance of SQL Server 2000 - not mentioned on Microsoft's support site but this was my problem!!