Can't even get this to connect to my sql server

Hi Guys

Little help I'm running Microsoft 2008 express, and I'm in the first stage of connecting to the sql server.

I doesn't seem to be able to find the SQL server even if its located on the same server.

This is the error I'm getting:

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)


Any ideas?


Please help

You connectionstring is propbably wrong.  try .\SQLExpress

Skiltz wrote:

Hey thanks for the quick reply this is teh connectionstrings its set to

data source=.\SQLEXPRESS;Integrated Security=SSPI;AttachDBFilename=|DataDirectory|aspnetdb.mdf;User Instance=true


when i browse through it from IIS it ask me to go through nopCommerce installation process.

I also tryed SQLExpress, still same issue.

never mind finally figured it out. when it prompt for the instance's name i put SQLEXPRESS directly in, but then i tryed localhost\SQLEXPRESS and it work