SQL Server 2012 Express Connection Timeout Expired

Question

Error Message Picture

I installed SQL Server 2012 Express from scratch, but it is not working. Same problem again.

Answer 1

By default, SQL Server Express will install as a named SQLEXPRESS instance - so you need to use your IP address with \SQLEXRPESS added to it as your server name:

Server Name: 192.168.1.199\SQLEXPRESS

Update: you need to go to SQL Server Configuration Manager and find out what your instance name is.

Start Menu 
   > Microsoft SQL Server 2012 
        > Configuration Tools 
             > SQL Server 2012 Configuration Manager

You should see a screen something like this:

Find the entry for SQL Server that is in the "running" state - what does it say in the brackets after SQL Server? That's your instance name - if it's a default SQL Server Express installation, it should say SQLEXPRESS. If it doesn't - well then that's your instance name right there (unless when it's MSSQLSERVER - then it's the unnamed instance).

Use 192.168.1.199\instance-name as your server name