SharePoint Restore Error: Your backup is from a different version of Microsoft SharePoint Foundation and cannot be restored to a server running the current version. The backup file should be restored to a server with version '14.0.0.5050' or later

Hi Folks,

I was deploying a new release for a SharePoint project that i'm working on with my team, when i was try to backup and restore a site collection from my development to staging environment, I got this error:

SharePoint Restore Error: Your backup is from a different version of Microsoft SharePoint Foundation and cannot be restored to a server running the current version. The backup file should be restored to a server with version '14.0.0.5050' or later.

To fix this problem, follow these steps:

1) Make sure that both environments have the same updates and CUs. To do so, Open Central Administration and click on Upgrade and Migration link and click on "Check product and patch installation  status".

You will have list of updates and CUs that have been installed on your environment, make sure those updates are identical. Any missing updates, download and install it on the new environment if you haven't document this as a part of your release process that you have in place.

2) Then click on "Review database status" under upgrade and migration section and make sure you don't have "need upgrade" to any of your content databases.The status should be "No action required". If you have any upgrade required and specially if you have SP1 installed, this means you didn't run the SPConfig command post to your SP1 installation. To do so, follow these steps:

a) Launch an elevated (Run as Administrator) SharePoint 2010 Management shell :

(get-spserver $env:computername).NeedsUpgrade

If the result of this command is True, then you need to complete step (b) below. If the result is False then no further action (b) is needed.

b) In order to update the SharePoint databases, you must manually run the PSconfig utility. To run the utility:

  - Open an Administrative command prompt. 

  - Change directory to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\14\BIN 

  - Run:

    PSConfig.exe -cmd upgrade -inplace b2b -force -cmd applicationcontent -install -cmd installfeatures

Wait till the configuration wizard finishes all updates and then you will be able to backup and restore your site collection with no issues...

Hope this helps.