Should I take the database offline before Restore?

What happens if I take a database offline?

Taking the database offline is a quick way to stop the bleeding until you get the bug identified. You can then bring it back online to assess the damage within the database.

Should I shrink database before backup?

Generally shrinking is not recommended. Instead depending on your bussiness requirements you can change recovery model or take regular t-log backups if it is in full or bulk_logged recovery model..

Can you backup a database that is offline?

A cold backup, also called an offline backup, is a database backup during which the database is offline and not accessible to update. This is the safest way to back up because it avoids the risk of copying data that may be in the process of being updated.

How do I restore my entire database?

Typically, recovering a database to the point of failure involves the following basic steps:1Back up the active transaction log (known as the tail of the log). ... 2Restore the most recent full database backup without recovering the database (RESTORE DATABASE database_name FROM backup_device WITH NORECOVERY).Complete Database Restores (Full Recovery Model) - SQL Server