I installed SQL Server 2005 and couldn't connect to the database engine. I uninstalled and reinstalled and had same problem. I then realized that the Main SQL service isn't running. And I get this error
"The SQL Server service (NAME OF INSTANCE) on Local Computer started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they are not in use by other services"
The installation is not on a domain, just a simple work group running on Windows 7 professional in a virtual machine on a MAC