try { using (var db = new dbContext()) { // Create new stub with correct id and attach to context. var entity = new myEntity { PageID = pageid }; db.Pages.Attach(entity); // Now the entity is being tracked by EF, update required properties. entity.Title = "new title"; entity.Url = "new-url"; // EF knows only to update the propeties specified above. db.SaveChanges(); } } catch (DataException) { // process exception }