new install of sqlexpress does not appear in management studio login

[bookouri]

I just installed sqlexpress on a windows machine. I just clicked through a basic install, and the install completed without any errors. I can see the sqlserver service running on the machine, but when i go into management studio to login, the local machine shows no sqlserver instances to logon to. Under the Server Name in the "Connect to Server" box I don't see anything. I can "browse for more" and there are no local servers to connect to. I can browse out to other sqlserver servers on the network but I get nothing in the local servers dialog box. Can anybody point me in the right direction to figure out what went wrong. This is my first experience with sqlserver express.

thanks

 

[Qik3Coder]

Dumb question...Have you restarted the server?

You've got questions and source code. We want both!

 

[mrdenny]

Make sure that the service is actually running.

What there already a default instance installed on the server? If so you've probably just upgraded it to what ever version you just installed.

Are you attempting to connect to it from the local machine or from a remote machine? By default the remote access to SQL Express instances are disabled.

Denny
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[bookouri]

yep, i restarted the machine and the default service and the new service were both running. I was trying to connect on the local machine, that's what was driving me crazy. IT was there but sqlserver didnt see it to logon. I did enable the tcp/ip connections and tried to connect from a remote machine as well, but never had any luck. I just gave up and uninstalled, or tried to uninstall all the sqlserver stuff. I never did manage to get it totally uninstalled so i could re-install.

 

[Qik3Coder]

You have the option when you set up the sql server to give it whatever name you want, or specifically an instance name.

If you are on the box, and having trouble connecting, you should be able to use "localhost" and it figures it out.

Unistalling any of the MS development tools can be painful...

Lod

You've got questions and source code. We want both!

 

[mrdenny]

It may simply be that the service is configured to be hidden so it isn't showing up. Type in the instance name as MACHINE\INSTANCE and it should connect.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / SQL 2005 BI / SQL 2008 DBA / SQL 2008 DBD / SQL 2008 BI / MWSS 3.0: Configuration / MOSS 2007: Configuration)
MCITP (SQL 2005 DBA / SQL 2008 DBA / SQL 2005 DBD / SQL 2008 DBD / SQL 2005 BI / SQL 2008 BI)
MCM (SQL 2008)
MVP

My Site