MSDE2000A connection problems

Hi.

Has anyone tried to install MSDE2000A?
I tried to install it, which apparently went fine.
I can see and start the MSSQLSERVER service and the agent.
But no matter what I do I can't connect to it.
The SQL Server Manager can't see it either.
The lists of servers and services are just empty.

I'm not that big on databases, so it might be something simple.
I normally only use Access DB's but I have run into some problems with that in my wepapp, so I thought that MSDE might be the answer.

Also, my understanding is that it's easy to take data from the desktop engine to a MySQL server?!?

I'm developing this at home so I only have Access and MSDE.
But my webhotel supports Access and MySQL.

Anyone have a clue as to what I'm doing wrong?

Or alternativly help me with this:http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?threadid=295764
This thread explains the problems I'm having with Access.