I'm trying to get a copy of an MDF file but coming across the standard "file is in use" message which I believe is the SQL service holding a lock on it. Is it possible to make a copy of the mdf file without having to stop the service or in any way affect users/applications?
If not, is it possible to create a once-off full backup mdf to a different location than the existing one so that it wouldn't be locked by SQL service?
(Variations on this have been asked on this site already, but I don't think this is a duplicate. I am not trying to relocate the database, simply attempting to take a copy of the mdf - without interrupting Live operations - so I can place it on my dev machine at home and play around with the database)