humbleamateur
asked on
1st Timer - VS Studio Can't Connect To SQL Server Express
I have just started using Visual Studio and SQL Server - I mean just. And I can't do the most basic thing, which is more than frustrating. I've checked the KnowledgeBase and surprisingly did not find a similar question (I suppose I must be really remedial then).
I am trying to add a SQL Server Express db as a data source. It's errored out with the following messages (I am trying out both VS 6.0 & VS 2008):
In VS 6.0, I get this error:
A network-related or instance-specific error has occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. Server is not found or not accessible. Check if instance name is correct and if SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections.
Named Pipes Provider: Could not open a connection to SQL Server [2]
In VS 2008, I get a similar error.
I've tried different things, but I got nowhere. Please help! It's like it's Christmas, I've got this huge present, but I can't get the wrapping off the package! :(
I am trying to add a SQL Server Express db as a data source. It's errored out with the following messages (I am trying out both VS 6.0 & VS 2008):
In VS 6.0, I get this error:
A network-related or instance-specific error has occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. Server is not found or not accessible. Check if instance name is correct and if SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections.
Named Pipes Provider: Could not open a connection to SQL Server [2]
In VS 2008, I get a similar error.
I've tried different things, but I got nowhere. Please help! It's like it's Christmas, I've got this huge present, but I can't get the wrapping off the package! :(
JackOfPH
Can you show us the connection string you use to connect in the database?
Aside from the connection string, which is a great place to start, the most common answer to why this is not working is that by default sqlexpress does not have the tcp/ip protocol enabled.
Open SQL Server Configuration Manager.
Open SQL Server 200x Network Configuration branch
On Protocols for SQLEXPRESS make sure TCP/IP is enabled (it is disabled by defalt)
Good Luck,
Dday
Open SQL Server Configuration Manager.
Open SQL Server 200x Network Configuration branch
On Protocols for SQLEXPRESS make sure TCP/IP is enabled (it is disabled by defalt)
Good Luck,
Dday
ASKER
Unfortunately, that didn't fix it.
I'm going to show my ignorance on this one - what exactly are these connection strings I keep reading about?
I was attempting to connect by: Adding a Data Link from the Data Link Window > Selecting SQL Server Native Client 10.0 as the OLE Db Provider > in Connection tab, selecting the Server, choosing Windows authentication, & then it errors out when I click the dropdown for Database
Thanks again for your help!
I'm going to show my ignorance on this one - what exactly are these connection strings I keep reading about?
I was attempting to connect by: Adding a Data Link from the Data Link Window > Selecting SQL Server Native Client 10.0 as the OLE Db Provider > in Connection tab, selecting the Server, choosing Windows authentication, & then it errors out when I click the dropdown for Database
Thanks again for your help!
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ASKER
That worked! Thanks so much!!
Hi humbleamateur,
What was your actual problem/ final solution? others were wathcing this thread for the solution.
What was your actual problem/ final solution? others were wathcing this thread for the solution.
ASKER
I had to enable TCP/IP, because the default for that was disabled like dday said.
It finally worked when I followed dday's advice to type in "[COMPUTER DESCRIPTION]\sqlexpress" for the server. I had had no idea what was required in that field and just assumed that whatever was in the dropdown list was what was wanted.
Also, when I was following the steps in dday's final post, I received an error - something like "Data log is full." I did a quick search on EE's Knowledgebase & found a working solution in less than a minute.
So, EE came through in many ways extremely quickly, as always!
It finally worked when I followed dday's advice to type in "[COMPUTER DESCRIPTION]\sqlexpress" for the server. I had had no idea what was required in that field and just assumed that whatever was in the dropdown list was what was wanted.
Also, when I was following the steps in dday's final post, I received an error - something like "Data log is full." I did a quick search on EE's Knowledgebase & found a working solution in less than a minute.
So, EE came through in many ways extremely quickly, as always!
Thanks for the info. It will help others that search the Knowledgebase like you did.