Need advice on restoring sql database file to server

[Brandr]

Greetings,

Are there any threads which comprehensively explain how to restore a back-up forum sql database file to the server?

I recently had to ask a vBulletin technician to get my Forum up and running, because after i uploaded the backed-up data base successfully, I was still getting a database error message in the browser.

It would be helpful if there was a step by step guide to restoring an sql back-up file so that vBulletin licensees like myself who are not master technicians can restore our forum database' without having to impose on other more savvy licensees or the vBulletin staff, which I find embarrassing.

This is what I did:

I uploaded the sql file (Only 12M's) to a new database ( via phpMyAdmin ) which i gave the same name as the previous, deleted one.
The config.php file had the corresponding database name, username, and password.

When I tried to log into my forum, I received a database error message.

What steps did i miss in the process of restoring a backed-up database so that the forum will operate as previously?

I found a more recent back-up file that would pretty much restore all of my forum's posts that were present before our disaster, I would like to use it but I'm scared to death of tampering with the database after a generous tech so recently restored it.

This is the only issue that I cannot seem to master as a new VBulletin Administrator.
Is there a (comprehensive) guide to sql back-up file restoration already present on vBulletin.org/com? ( If so, I can't find it)
If not, I Implore someone to create It.

Best wishes,
_B.