MySQL ERROR 1146 table doesn't exist after backup
<p>In school after every lesson I need to backup my database so I copy database from mysql data directory and when I work again I paste it back in. </p>

<p>The thing is that I always get error that my tables don't exist although when I type show tables; it lists them. </p>

<pre><code>mysql&gt; show tables;
+--------------------------+
| Tables_in_database_name  |
+--------------------------+
| table_name               |
+--------------------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)
</code></pre>

<p>I get the error when I type something like this for example: </p>

<pre><code>describe table_name;
ERROR 1146 (42502): Table 'database_name.table_name' doesn't exist
</code></pre>

<p>Is there a way to fix this or what would be the proper way to backup my database?</p>