How to schedule and automate backups of SQL Server databases in SQL Server Express

Summary:

SQL Server Express editions do not offer a way to schedule either jobs or maintenance plans because the SQL Server Agent component is not included in these editions. Therefore, you have to take a different approach to back up your databases when you use these editions.   

Currently SQL Server Express users can back up their databases by using one of the following methods:

• Use SQL Server Management Studio Express. This is installed together with either SQL Server Express Advanced Service or SQL Server Express Toolkit. For more information, go to the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) website: 
  
  Create a Full Database Backup (SQL Server) 
• Use a Transact-SQL script that uses the BACKUP DATABASE family of commands. For more information, go to the following MSDN website:
  
  BACKUP (Transact-SQL)

This article describes how to use a Transact-SQL script together with Windows Task Scheduler to automate backups of SQL Server Express databases on a scheduled basis.