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I've just installed Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (64 bits with BI) on a windows dedicated server with the cheap Web Edition.

I launched Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Setup Discovery Report which says: Product Instance Instance ID Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 SQLEXPRESS2008

But when I run sql server management studio, it shows (local), when I try to connect with sa and password it fails saying

TITLE: Connect to Server

Cannot connect to (local).

------------------------------ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: Named Pipes Provider, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server) (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 2)

For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&EvtID=2&LinkId=20476

------------------------------ BUTTONS:

OK

I have checked that SQL Server is running within SQL Server Management Configuration. Sql server agent is not running, do I need it ?

Ben Pilbrow
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user46250
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1 Answers1

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Doesn't SQL Server Express install as a named instance by default? Try "(local)\SQLEXPRESS". Also make sure that the SQL Server Browser service is running. You need it to connect to a named instance.

sarme
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  • Thank you very very very very very very much !!! I don't know why sql browser isn't started after install, this never occured to me before :) – user46250 Jul 18 '10 at 11:40
  • Isn't this a bug of sql server install ? I did the install twice and it did reproduce. – user46250 Jul 18 '10 at 11:41