SQL Server 2008 Frustrations

I have Visual Studio 2008 Professional installed. I just installed SQL Server 2008 Express. I'd like to think I'm a pretty capable computer person but I can't seem to connect to SQL Server period. Clearly I haven't configured something properly but I don't know what it is.

In visual studio I click on "Add Connection" then select "Microsoft SQL Server". In "Server Name" I select the only instance shown (MAIN-PC) and under databases there are none shown. When I click "test connection" I get...

The server was not found or was not accessible.......

Is your OS 32-bit or 64-bit? Also, unless you specified otherwise, your instance will be named <ComputerName>\SQLExpress.

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Originally Posted by jmcilhinney

Is your OS 32-bit or 64-bit? Also, unless you specified otherwise, your instance will be named <ComputerName>\SQLExpress.

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Vista 64 bit. I installed the 32 bit version of SQL Server though.

I'm not sure whether this will help but it may well do.

http://kristofmattei.be/2009/02/17/s...tfix-released/

Have you created any databases in the instance you created?

Trying to download that hotfix but it said it sent me an email with the link but it didn't.

I can't even seem to install SQL Server Management Studio to create databases. I installed the 2005 version but 2008 just opens up a screen with a bunch of options and doesn't actually install anything.

Man - I've spent the last three years working with Oracle and bragging to my Oracle buddies how simple it is to install and use SQL Server. Two days into this and I can seem to get things going. Urg....

I should add that I also have a 32 bit Vista machine and although I have successfully installed everything including SSMS and created several databases, I am unable to connect to those databases from VS 2008 either. Same error.

I must be doing something simple wrong but have tried everything I can think of.

Can you log into the dbs you created through SSMS? Are you using windows auth? or supplying a L/P?

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Originally Posted by smendoza

Can you log into the dbs you created through SSMS? Are you using windows auth? or supplying a L/P?

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I can on my Vista 32 box but I can't seem to even install SSMS on the 64 bit OS. I'm using mixed auth and I've tried both methods of connecting from VS 2008.

I should mention that I can't create DSN to it either so it isn't a VS 2008 problem. Maybe firewall? But I've turned off my firewall to see if that solved the problem and no luck.

I hate to say this because I'm a huge Microsoft fan but I just installed MySQL and MySQL tools, created a database, downloaded a MySQL data provider, and connected to it in Visual Studio 2008 in under 15 minutes.

Is the allow remote connection enabled? Also try connection through SQLCMD to the instance...
For SSMS what do the install logs say? I'm assuming you're a admin on the vista 64box?

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Originally Posted by smendoza

Is the allow remote connection enabled? Also try connection through SQLCMD to the instance...
For SSMS what do the install logs say? I'm assuming you're a admin on the vista 64box?

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Thanks for your help. "Allow remote connections" is checked off. I'll try the SQLCMD tonight (wasn't aware of that option). For SSMS, I downloaded it but when I click on the installer it just brings up a utility screen and I don't know how to install it (not intuitive like most software). I am an admin (at least I should be as I'm using the original account for the computer).

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Originally Posted by ferrethouse

I am an admin (at least I should be as I'm using the original account for the computer).

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You almost certainly aren't, at least not completely.

Vista has forced lax people to do what they weren't willing to do themselves - run Windows with at least some security.

Even tho the account you are using might be listed as an Admin, that doesn't mean it is - it is usually a power user who has permission to elevate to Admin level if they request it.

You can do that by right-clicking on an executable, or automatically when running some installation programs (which Vista will notice need proper Admin rights); either way, you should get a UAC confirmation dialog (assuming UAC is turned on).

I'll try reinstalling tonight by right clicking and "run as administrator". You would think that there would be errors during the install if it didn't have sufficient permissions though. It reported a successful installation.